Michael Chandler

Arman Tsarukyan, a top UFC lightweight, gave his prediction for the upcoming fight between Michael Chandler and the organization's former champion in two weight categories Conor McGregor. Arman considers the Irishman as the favorite for this fight.

"Chandler never turns his brain on. He always fights for the fans. Michael will try to knock out McGregor because he is very dangerous in the first round. If the fight gets to the second or third round, Chandler will lose. In my opinion, Conor is more resilient and more intelligent," Tsarukyan said on the air of the podcast Believe You Me.

Let's remind that the showdown between Chandler and McGregor will take place on June 29 in Las Vegas and will headline UFC 303.

The verbal altercation between Michael Chandler and Arman Tsarukian has been continued

"Anyone in mixed martial arts, whether they're lying to you or not, would do the same thing I did. Trust me - they're all overwhelmed with envy because of the position I'm in. They can all act like tough guys and say they would have had four fights in the time I sat idle. Maybe I missed one or two fights, but none of them will compare to what's going to happen on June 29," Chandler said.

Recall, earlier Chandler criticized Tsarukyan for refusing to go out for a title fight against Islam Makhachev seven weeks after winning a challenger fight against Charles Oliveira.

Josh Thomson, former UFC fighter, reacted to the verbal altercation between Arman Tsarukian and Michael Chandler.

"Arman gave one of the most brilliant responses I've ever heard from an MMA fighter. And the way he teed up Chandler at the end impressed me in general. The UFC is always doing stuff like that. You're hyped up after a big win, and they tell you, "Hey, you want to have a great fight in five to eight weeks?" - Thomson stated on the YouTube channel Weighin' In.

Recall, Chandler previously rebuked Tsarukyan for refusing to fight UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in early June. In response, Arman said that he fights for the championship belt, not for money, like Michael.

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo said that in the upcoming fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler his sympathies will be on the side of the star Irishman.

The meeting between these fighters will be the main event of UFC 303, which will take place on June 29 in Las Vegas, USA.

"I always root for the guys I've fought and the guys who beat me because it proves that I lost to the best. I hope he can be the same old Conor, be aggressive and finish the fight .... I expect a lot from this fight," - quotes Aldo Championship Rounds.

Recall that in December 2015, Aldo lost to McGregor by knockout in 13 seconds.

American UFC lightweight veteran Michael Chandler compared the division's champion Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan, the top-ranked fighter in the category.

"Of course, Arman knocked out Dariush, he's good in the parterre. You saw it in the fight against Oliveira. Tsarukyan is strong. But Islam has mashed up a lot of guys. He has a great calling in life, he believes he fights for more than just himself. He fights for the whole country, he fights for Khabib's legacy, Khabib's father's legacy. That's much more important and special. It instills fear in his opponents," Chandler said on The MMA Hour show.

We will remind, on June 1 at the UFC 302 tournament in Newark, USA, Makhachev will have a fight against Dustin Puryear.