Michael Chandler has expressed skepticism regarding Ilia Topuria’s claims about his weight, particularly following the Spaniard’s unexpected decision to vacate his featherweight title. Topuria recently cleared the air about his situation, admitting that he found it challenging to cut down to 145 pounds. His rationale for relinquishing the belt was to avoid selfishly holding on to it and taking opportunities away from other fighters in the division.
Despite Topuria’s straightforward explanation, Chandler seems unconvinced. During a recent interview, he raised doubts about Topuria’s assertion that he walks around at 190 pounds during off-seasons.
“[Topuria] versus Islam [Makhachev] would make the most business sense for the UFC, as far as the biggest fight. Is Ilia the most deserving of it? It’s hard to say, because it’s a guy coming up a weight class. He claims he’s 190 pounds outside of training camp, I don’t know if that’s necessarily true. I don’t think he’s as big as some of us lightweights. But the dude is absolutely skilled, and more importantly, he believes in himself,” Chandler remarked in a recent interview.
As time unfolds, the legitimacy of Topuria’s claims will come to light, especially with his transition to the lightweight division on the horizon. All eyes will be on his debut, while Chandler is laser-focused on his own upcoming fight after gearing up for UFC 314, sending a clear message to his opponent.
Michael Chandler Issues Stark Warning to Paddy Pimblett
Michael Chandler faces a significant challenge as he prepares for an important fight that could revitalize his career following a setback against Charles Oliveira. This time, he’s set to go up against rising star Paddy Pimblett, and despite the challenges the matchup poses, Chandler exudes confidence.
“It’s a bad matchup stylistically for [Paddy]… I’m gonna land a right hand or a left hook and put his lights out within the first couple rounds,” Chandler stated via ‘ESPN MMA.
Michael Chandler predicts an early KO in his fight against Paddy Pimblett 👀
“It’s a bad matchup stylistically for [Paddy]… I’m gonna land a right hand or a left hook and put his lights out within the first couple rounds.”
🎥 @espnmma #UFC314pic.twitter.com/XoQZoHXEUx
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) February 21, 2025
With this declaration, it remains to be seen how Chandler will perform in his upcoming bout, as he displays an abundance of confidence heading into the fight.
