Michael Chandler is the alternate for the UFC 254 main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.
The fighter believes that if he were to battle either Nurmagomedov or Gaethje, he’d prove to be a bad match up for both.
“I think I’m a bad matchup for either of them,” Chandler said to MMA Fighting. “What you need to beat Gaethje, you’ve got to keep your hands up but fight him, also. You’ve got to wear him down like Eddie [Alvarez] did and you eventually get the TKO. If you don’t eventually get the TKO, you’ve got to land more shots than he lands. For me, that’s the game plan against Justin Gaethje. If you can lure him into a dog fight, I not only think I win that ‘Fight of the Year’ but that’s just a fight that excites me.”
If Chandler competes as a late replacement at UFC 254. It would also be the fighter’s UFC debut. Chandler knows that he is ready to step in to fight either Nurmagomedov or Gaethje if the opportunity presents itself.
“Of course, the alternate position, you’re in the batter’s box. You’re ready to go,” Chandler said. “You just let the cards fall where they may. A lot of times in my career, I’ve had to do that same kind of thing. I’ve never turned down a fight. I’ve never pulled out of a fight. I’ve always shown up and answered the bell. If the opportunity comes up on Oct. 24, I’m going to show up and answer the bell and the fans are going to get a quick introduction to who Michael Chandler is.”
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