Chandler 'On the Same Path as Tony Ferguson' - BJM

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John McCarthy does not see things boding well for Michael Chandler moving forward.

Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) rallied late, but was dominated for the most part in his rematch with Charles Oliveira less than two weeks ago at UFC 309. Chandler has now lost four of his past five, with the lone win in that stretch coming in a knockout over the skidding Tony Ferguson at UFC 274.

In fact, McCarthy thinks Chandler’s career will likely start resembling the one of Ferguson (25-11 MMA, 15-9 UFC), who after winning 12-straight fights, has now lost eight in a row.

“Michael Chandler has hit Tony Ferguson status – just being honest … absolutely,” McCarthy said on his “Weighing-In” podcast. “Who’s he going to beat? He looked slow. You cannot look slow in the lightweight division. You’re going to die, and he got outwrestled by a jiu-jitsu guy.”

Chandler’s performance potentially was impacted by a layoff of more than two years he opted to take waiting for Conor McGregor. After he lost to Oliveira, Chandler called out McGregor, but McCarthy isn’t sure where he goes next.

“Dustin doesn’t want to fight him again because of the same things that he fcking ended up doing in the Oliveira fight,” McCarthy said. “Now I always sit there and say, ‘If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying,’ but don’t sit there and fcking tell me that he didn’t hit him to the back of the head.

“I don’t give a fck if your fist is going on the other side of his ear, when your forearm is hitting him to the back of the head, it’s the fcking back of the head. … I’m not saying he’s got seven losses in a row (like Ferguson) – I’m saying he’s on the same path as Tony Ferguson.”

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One of the most talented fighters who just couldn’t put a champion level game together, he’d swing when he should wrestle and vice versa. Super freaking talented physically, has all the tools to own that division and yet….

Now his inactivity only hurt him and now on a losing streak! I see no indicator he is at Ferguson status physically. Just needs to be more active I think.

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He was able to get away with lesser technical ability because of his power, athleticism and sheer will. At the top of 155 in the UFC, he’s just a step below the top 3-4 guys. He would have a better chance if he took guys down, but he won’t.

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