Michael Chandler doesn’t think fighting Islam Makhachev would compare to being in there with Khabib Nurmagomedov – at least not yet. Although Makhachev (21-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) is on a similar path of dominance, most recently making quick work of Dan Hooker this past Saturday with a first-round submission at UFC 267, Chandler (22-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) was always excited about the prospect of handing Nurmagomedov his first loss. Nurmagomedov, the former UFC lightweight champion, retired in October 2020, ending his career with three straight submissions over Dustin Poirier, Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje. No one had an answer for Nurmagomedov’s ground game and while no one has been able to stop Makhachev lately, either, they just don’t have the same aura in Chandler’s eyes. “No, not even close,” Chandler told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a news conference Wednesday
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Michael Chandler says Islam Makhachev ‘not even close’ to Khabib Nurmagomedov right now – MMA Junkie