Michael Chandler criticizes Arman Tsarukyan turning down UFC 302 title fight, Tsrukyan unloads back

Michael Chandler knows from personal experience that some of the biggest and best opportunities really come down to timing.

After he debuted in the UFC in blistering fashion with a first-round knockout of Dan Hooker, the three-time Bellator lightweight champion ended up competing for a UFC title in only his second fight with the promotion once Khabib Nurmagomedov shocked the world by announcing his retirement. He ultimately lost his bid to become champion after falling to Charles Oliveira at UFC 262, but Chandler had no regrets about accepting the challenge three months after making his octagon debut.

That’s why Chandler doesn’t understand how Arman Tsarukyan ultimately decided to turn down a title fight against reigning lightweight champion Islam Makhachev after he beat Oliveira at UFC 300. He was offered a chance to clash with Makhachev at UFC 302 in June, but opted to pass, with Dustin Poirier getting the title fight instead.

“Arman just went out there and beat Oliveira. Obviously, sounds like he’s going to be the No. 1 contender next,” Chandler said on The MMA Hour. “I also don’t understand why he didn’t take that fight. I would have taken it.”

Chandler understands the nature of how the sport works, where passing on an opportunity can come back to bite someone in the end.

He can’t help but note that just a few weeks after Makhachev battles Poirier at UFC 302, that he’ll welcome Conor McGregor back to the octagon in the UFC 303 main event. The winner of that — like it or not — could easily slide right into a title fight next.

“This sport moves fast,” Chandler said. “The sport moves very fast, and June 1, you’re going to see the lightweight title [fight] happen, and then a couple weeks later, you’re going to see the biggest fight — a fight that’s way bigger than that — happen, and both of those guys can make lightweight.

“So the sport moves fast. You’ve got to take your opportunities. You’ve got to pounce on them. Coming from the guy that just waited 15 months, so I get people, ‘Oh yeah, Chandler, you really are pouncing on opportunities.’ Once again, I never got asked for any opportunities in the last 15 months.”

As far as Tsarukyan’s chances at beating Makhachev, if that fight ever happens again, Chandler acknowledges the 27-year-old Georgian fighter poses risks for anybody he faces. Even on short notice in his octagon debut, Tsarukyan arguably gave Makhachev one of his toughest fights to date, although the Dagestani mauler still won a unanimous decision.

Chandler doesn’t expect a rematch to go any different, even if he understands the danger Tsarukyan represents in a five-round title fight.

“Obviously, he knocked out Beneil [Dariush], he’s good on the ground,” Chandler said of Tsarukyan. “You saw it in the Oliveria fight. He’s strong on the ground, very strong base, he’s a strong guy. Islam’s got a lot of guy’s numbers. He’s got a big calling on his life and he believes it, and he’s not just fighting for himself. He is fighting for the entire country. He is fighting for Khabib’s legacy. He’s fighting for Khabib’s dad’s legacy. It’s a lot deeper and it’s special. It’s good. It’s intimidating to a lot of people.

“But no, I think Islam retains against Poirier. I think he retains against Arman. And I guess that would have to be first quarter next year, I would fight him.”

As much as Chandler would have jumped at the opportunity to fight Makhachev — even under less than ideal circumstances — Tsarukyan reminded the veteran lightweight that he’s playing chess, not checkers, with his career.

In response to Chandler’s comments, Tsarukyan fired back with a nuclear bomb, blasting the UFC 303 headliner for always putting on exciting fights — and constantly losing them.

“I don’t expect you to understand Michael Chandler,” Tsarukyan wrote on Twitter. “We are not on the same level. I am here to be the champ. You are just waiting for a paycheck.

“I also don’t understand why you waited [for the] Conor fight for two years, you could’ve lost four exciting fights during that time.”