Islam Makhachev tells Michael Chandler to 'shut up' as UFC lightweight division heats up
- Heinrich Griessel
- 27 September 2022
UFC lightweight contender Islam Makhachev has told Michael Chandler to keep his mouth shut after he questioned the strength of Makhachev's opponents.
Makhachev is preparing to face Charles Oliveira next month at UFC 280 to battle it out for the vacant lightweight title.
It's been a long road for the Russian, who is now 22-1 as an MMA fighter. He is currently on a 10-fight winning streak, which includes victories over Thiago Moises, Dan Hooker, and Bobby Green in his last three bouts.
Meanwhile, Chandler is set to fight Dustin Poirier at UFC 281. The winner there is expected to then get a shot at the lightweight title, against the winner of the Makhachev/Oliveira clash.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting's Damon Martin, Chandler quipped that Makhachev has enjoyed quite an easy road to the title fight and that praising the 31-year-old may be premature.
Makhachev did not take kindly to Chandler's slight and hit back by telling the former Bellator star he should look in the mirror first.
"Haha, your only two win in UFC is Hooker who came out of loss, and Tony who has 5 losses in the row now. Please shut up and stay in line," Makhachev said in a recent tweet.
Chandler lost to Oliveira and Justin Gaethje after beating Hooker in his first UFC fight. He knocked out UFC veteran Tony Ferguson with a front kick at UFC 274 in May.
