Michael Chandler: if Eddie Alvarez can beat Justin Gaethje, I can definitely beat Gaethje.

[jsbx45]

Chandler needs to step up and take this fight sooner if he isn't under a medical suspension. Gaethje is going to want to fight sooner than Chandler says he will be ready. Great fight tho if it can be made.

 

[Franklin U.]

So ignorant. Alvarez beat a gaejthe who couldnt swim a full lap in an Olympic pool.
Fast forward to a more evolved up version of gaejthe ( Trev & comp), I would expect gaejthe to handle Chandler.... and hed be favored to do so. That said, I think gaejthe has hit his ceiling but its higher than Mikes.

 

[TheWave111]

Chandler: "I took one on the chin. I didn’t have my hand up and Charles Oliveira was able to finish me."

Almost 2 weeks after the fight and still don't know his mistake.
It was not his hand that was not up. It was your movement back in 1 line.
Send him back to bellator.

 

[TripTictonic]

It's the same Gaethje. Just fought a completely washed Ferg and looked amazing.

He was so fucking sloppy against Khabib.

That’s because the absurd pressure Khabib was putting on Justin and Justin’s determination to stay off the perimeter and not get taken down. There’s not really anyone outside of Khabib who can put that type of pressure and TD threat on Justin. Tony might have been a little washed, but if Gaethje went out there and fought Tony like he did Eddie or MJ, he wouldn’t have been nearly as dominant. In fact, he might have gassed and gotten in some serious trouble. He fought a brilliant fight against Tony. Wittman has absolutely dialed him back some since his 2 losses to Dustin and Eddie. Watch his run from Vick to Tony, all against strikers.

 

[Peli]

Don't like Eddie Alvarez but i think he's right. I can see Chandler throwing a sloppy looping punches and Gaethje countering him with ease.

I think its a 50-50 fight. Only in the first round, then its gaethje 2-5.

Gaethje can be timed when he throws a leg kick. His Leg kicks are naked. I edge gaethje though. If gaethje was a feinter, man oh man

 

[mkt]

If Gaethje still employed the same strategy of eat 2 punches to land a leg kick and swing until the first guy drops, I’d like Chandler’s chances better in a brawl. Through Gaethje’s patience and growth though, I think he’s a bad matchup for Chandler overall.

I agree. Eddie-Justin was 2017 years ago, and a lot can change in 4 years. Gaethje made some big improvements to his striking game as you mentioned. Eddie was 33 when he fought Gaethje, still in the twilight of his prime. Gaethje is now 32, but Chandler is 35...and could rapidly age (like Tony Ferguson) at any time.

Chandler best chance is to get and keep Gaethje on the ground and hunt for a sub. While Chandler's grappling is good, I don't think it's nearly on Khabib's level. Khabib is the only one to take Justin (a D1 wrestler like Chandler) down and manhandle him like that. But Chandler has a strong brawling instinct so I don't know how much he'll want to wrestle.

 

[Peli]

It's the same Gaethje. Just fought a completely washed Ferg and looked amazing.

He was so fucking sloppy against Khabib.

lol none of the elite guys looked good against Khabib. I'm not sure you're saying much there. Conor, Dustin, RDA, and gaethje all looked sloppy.

Gaethje did the most damage out of the four and it was only a two rounder.

 

[Fight Professor]

Justin has the same strengths as Chandler but a better chin.

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Eddie also took a ton of damage in that fight to KO Justin. I don't know if Chandler can take that kind of punishment for 3-5 rounds. I can see Justin sending him to bolivian.

You realize he went 5 rounds with Eddie in a Split Decision and finished Eddie in the 4th round of their first fight which was a FOTY contender.

 

[Zebra Cheeks]

Justin has the same strengths as Chandler but a better chin.

I think chandler is faster

 

[mkt]

This is the truth. This is the main thing Chandler has got to worry about. His wide stance begs other fights to kick his legs. He's got a quick counter, but will he after a few hard kicks, or even in the second or third round after even more kicks.

Yep and sore legs will also affect his TDs. Wrestling may not be an option after a couple of rounds.

 

[kalabula]

It's the same Gaethje. Just fought a completely washed Ferg and looked amazing.

He was so fucking sloppy against Khabib.

Ya I think ppl are putting to much stock in Justin’s victory over Toney. It hasn’t aged well, at all. Obviously Justin’s a great fighter. But chandler is as well. Itd be a good fight. I’d still favor Justin, I think though.

 

[Raymundo Alvarado Guevara]

Eddie has a point in it

 

[mkt]

You realize he went 5 rounds with Eddie in a Split Decision and finished Eddie in the 4th round of their first fight which was a FOTY contender.

Yeah, those were 8 and 10 years ago. Chandler didn't look so durable in his rematch with Will Brooks a few years later. I woudn't assume 35-year old Chandler can take the same punishment. Not everyone is Tony Ferguson in their mid-30s.

 

[King Joffery]

He is right, Justin ain't all that, massively overrated. I see Justin losing his next fight tbh, think he is mentally broken.

 

[Pressure Project]

Oh no.....careful and more "disciplined" striking is going to be the end of Chandler.

That's his whole schtick - pressurized chaos.

 

[Sopapo]

Gaethje is defenitily better, but that fight is a toss up. Justin gets hit, and Chandler is fast and has monster hooks & overhands.

 

[Small Town Andrew]

Chandler throwing those massive bombs right out of the gate kind of works for him. He hurts a lot of guys early but he needs to find a way to save some in the gas tank for the rest of the fight.

I was overly impressed with his grappling in the Charles fight and think Chandler should wrestle more. If he could get Justin down he would dominate his white belt ass.

If it stays standing Justin will win. Chandler cant handle leg kicks

 

[Small Town Andrew]

lol none of the elite guys looked good against Khabib. I'm not sure you're saying much there. Conor, Dustin, RDA, and gaethje all looked sloppy.

Gaethje did the most damage out of the four and it was only a two rounder.

Khabib is very good but Justin did not fight like himself. A lot of Justin fans myself included were very disappointed in his performance. Its not the fact that he lost but how he lost. He fought like a coward on the feet and literally ran from Khabib multiple times. It was obvious why when he got taken down however because it was clear his ground game is absolutely atrocious. I know no one looks good on the ground with Khabib and there is no shame in him submitting you. Justin looked so much worst than anyone else has however and was completely clueless and horrified as soon as it got there.

Hope he fixes that hole in his game because he is probably the most entertaining guy in the UFC to watch

 

[El Fernas]

In al honesty, Alvarez finished the fight, but he got himself a beating probably worst than what he gave to Gaethje, so i wouldnt count his performance as some sort of blueprint or proof that Alvarez beats Gaethje every time.