“Defeat Islam Makhachev and I will consider you number one contender” Khabib offers Michael Chandler

“Defeat Islam Makhachev and I will consider you number one contender” Khabib offers Michael Chandler
Khabib Numagomedov and Michael Chandler

Khabib Nurmagomedov will be highlighting the main event at UFC 254 alongside Justin Gaetjhe. Khabib’s cousin Islam Makhachev was also scheduled to fight Rafel Dos Anjos this night, but RDA tested positive for COVID-19 and he is out from the fight. Since then UFC is unable to find an opponent for Makhachev.

Ali Abdelaziz even agreed to give Tony Ferguson 200k $ if he fights Makhachev and defeated him at UFC 254 but Tony denied to fight. Now Khabib has made an interesting offer for the Bellator MMA sensation Michael Chandler, who is also serving as a backup fighter for Khabib vs Gaetjhe fight.

While speaking on his podcast, Sonnen said “I got a phone call from Khabib. He’s never called me before… He said, ‘there’s nobody I’m closer to than Islam. I’m telling you right now- if Michael Chandler beats Islam, I will view Michael Chandler the number one contender. I want you to get the message.”

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Most of the UFC fighters are already not happy after Dana White giving so much importance to Chandler. Now Khabib’s statement should have pissed them even more.

Islam Makhachev won’t compete at UFC 254

Islam Makhachev

The UFC was unable to find a competitor for Islam Makhachev, even Ali Abdelaziz tried to ‘Bribe’ Tony Ferguson but this too failed. Makhechev is on a six win streak right now and his lone defeat came in 2015 against Adriano Martins.

Makhachev is ranked 12th in the UFC’s official lightweight rankings. But even after trying almost everything his fight is out of the fight card as UFC announced the official fight card for the UFC 254 event and Islam’s fight isn’t in it.

Also Read: Petr ‘No Mercy’ Yan will defend his title against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 256 Co-Main event