Dustin Poirier has publicly questioned Michael Chandler’s fighting future after the 40-year-old lightweight suffered his fourth consecutive loss, a knockout defeat to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC White House.
Chandler, a former Bellator lightweight champion, now holds a 2-6 record in the UFC but has indicated on social media that he is ready to continue and, in his words, "get back on the horse,".
Poirier, who previously fought Chandler before the two later reconciled, did not hide his concern. "With all due respect, we’ve buried the hatchet and shook hands, but Michael Chandler, what are you doing?" Poirier said.
He also reacted to talk of Chandler potentially changing divisions. "I saw a thing; I don’t know if this is official news, but he said he might move up to welterweight. If 155ers are stopping you and you’re taking all this damage, what are 170s gonna do?" Poirier added.
Poirier repeatedly emphasized the dangers of fighters pushing on too long. "I want to know what he’s fighting for," he said. "That’s what they always say: the fighter is the last one to know," and, "Everybody around them knows it’s time to hang them up; the fighter’s the last one to know. …"
Despite his concerns, Poirier did leave the door open for one specific matchup. "If Conor recovers, and has a fight left on his contract, Chandler was trailed along with the Conor fight," he said, suggesting that bout as a possible exception even as he questions Chandler’s overall future.
