UFC legend Matt Brown believes Michael Chandler is under immense pressure at UFC 314. Facing Paddy Pimblett, a lower-ranked opponent, Chandler needs to rebound from two consecutive losses.
Brown emphasizes the “do-or-die” nature of this fight for Chandler, considering his UFC career trajectory. Despite impressive bonuses and “Fight of the Night” awards, Chandler`s UFC record stands at 2-4. At 38, losing to a less experienced fighter like Pimblett would be a major blow.
On The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, Brown stated this fight is crucial for Chandler, aligning with Chandler`s own ambition for a title or nothing.
Brown questions Chandler`s UFC wins, suggesting only the Dan Hooker victory is arguably significant, and even that win`s quality is debatable. He dismisses a win over Tony Ferguson as a quality victory.
While a win over Pimblett`s impact is unclear to Brown, he`s certain a loss would be devastating for Chandler.
Chandler`s UFC defeats have been against former champions like Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Charles Oliveira. Pimblett, while promising, hasn`t reached their level of achievement.
Brown insists Chandler must convincingly defeat Pimblett to maintain his championship aspirations. A loss at UFC 314 could effectively end Chandler`s title hopes.
Brown argues losing to the No. 15 ranked Pimblett is unacceptable for Chandler. He acknowledges Pimblett`s skills and progress but highlights the severity of a loss for Chandler.
Brown questions Chandler`s top-10 ranking but recognizes Pimblett aims to take that spot. A win for Pimblett against Chandler would be a significant career advancement.
For Chandler, failing to overcome Pimblett raises questions about his future in the lightweight division, potentially leading him to consider alternative career paths.
Brown concludes that a loss to Pimblett would force Chandler to confront his career choices: pursue the title or consider a new direction, possibly as a commentator or analyst, leveraging his brand and appeal.
Wesley Dunham