Updated
Updated · MMA Sucka · Jul 20
Poirier Tells 40-Year-Old Chandler to Retire, Warns 170-Pound Move Will Bring More Damage
Updated
Updated · MMA Sucka · Jul 20

Poirier Tells 40-Year-Old Chandler to Retire, Warns 170-Pound Move Will Bring More Damage

3 articles · Updated · MMA Sucka · Jul 20

Summary

  • Dustin Poirier said Michael Chandler should retire rather than move from 155 to 170 pounds, arguing a welterweight switch would only expose him to heavier punishment.
  • Chandler’s warning signs are mounting: the 40-year-old has lost 4 straight fights, most recently by first-round TKO to Mauricio Ruffy last month after defeats to Paddy Pimblett, Charles Oliveira and Poirier.
  • On the Deep Waters podcast, Poirier said he and Chandler have “buried the hatchet,” but still questioned the move bluntly: “If 155’ers are stopping you, what are 170s gonna do?”
  • The advice lands as Chandler searches for a reset after teasing a welterweight return, with speculation about a Conor McGregor fight also cooling after McGregor’s UFC 329 injury.

Insights

Could a move to welterweight be Chandler's last shot at glory, or is it the final mistake for an aging fighter?
Is an 'action fighter's' mindset the biggest obstacle to retirement, trapping them in a cycle of chasing one last knockout?
When does a promoter's interest in a star conflict with its ethical duty to protect them from long-term harm?