Dustin Poirier believes Michael Chandler must prove he still belongs among the UFC lightweight elite when he faces Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event of UFC 314 this Saturday in Miami.
Chandler (23-9), a former Bellator champion, has faced top-tier opponents since joining the UFC but holds just a 2-4 record in the promotion. One of those losses came by submission to Poirier at UFC 281. Now, Poirier feels Chandler is entering a pivotal moment in his career.
“To me, as a fighter and a fan, Chandler is at a crossroads here,” Poirier said on Good Guy/Bad Guy. “He’s taking on a young guy who has a lot of hype, but his track record has been kind of rocky in the UFC. This is a big test for Chandler to show he deserves to be at the top of the division.”
Pimblett (22-3) remains unbeaten in the UFC, but questions remain about the level of his competition. Saturday’s five-round matchup at the Kaseya Center marks his biggest test to date. Meanwhile, Chandler’s back is against the wall after a string of losses that have put his top-five standing in jeopardy.
Poirier, who recently derailed Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299, understands the pressure Chandler is under.
“He’s been at the top of the lightweight conversation since he got into the UFC with his win over Dan Hooker,” Poirier said. “It’s been downhill since then. He’s been a staple in the top five, but he can’t lose this fight.”
According to Poirier, the stakes are high for both fighters.
“If he wins, OK, maybe he still deserves to be up there. But he has to follow that up with something big,” Poirier added. “And for Paddy, if he beats Michael Chandler, now he’s fighting the top five.”
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