Former Bellator lightweight champion and UFC title challenger Michael Chandler has said that Russia’s Islam Makhachev doesn’t deserve a title shot yet.
According to the American, Makhachev shouldn’t get a championship fight after a win over Bobby Green. Islam is on a 10 fight winning streak and it’s undoubtedly the hottest name in the lightweight division in the last several months.
Chandler thinks it’s only a matter of time before Makhachev, who trains under Khabib Nurmagomedov, challenges for the belt but doesn’t think a win over an unranked opponent is enough to solidify him as a title contender.
“It’s a tough one, man,” Chandler, who will take on Tony Ferguson at UFC 274, told The Schmo in a recent interview .
“People talk about win streaks, obviously the man is on a win streak. He’s looking extremely dominant. We have a common opponent, he beat Dan Hooker in the first round just like I did. So that was the first time that he really stepped into the lightweight division inside the top 10 and staked his claim as one of the guys who will be competing for the title in the future.”
“However, beating Bobby Green shouldn’t get you a title shot,” Chandler added.
“His win streak has consisted of everybody outside of the top 10 aside from Dan Hooker. So I do think him and Beneil Dariush need to fight. I think it’s a great match-up, their strong suits complement each other very well, they’re both grapplers. I think the UFC is the best promotion on the planet, they know what they’re doing, they know how to put together great fights. I think Islam needs to continue to cut his teeth inside the top of the lightweight division.”
