Michael Chandler Wants Josh Thomson Next, With One Condition

Michael Chandler spoke with MMAjunkie for a new interview. Some highlights are below:

On his next fight: “I want to fight (Thomson) next. My only stipulation is that I’m not doing it in San Jose (Thomson’s hometown). I’ll do it anywhere else in the world. All I know is, when that fight gets announced, I’m not signing on the dotted line until they tell me, ‘OK, here’s your backup opponent, and here’s your date, and you’ll fight this guy when Josh gets hurt.’”

On a possible move to 170: “I think he needs to come in and get a win, but I would love the Rory MacDonald fight. He’s a tall drink of water. Benson fought at 170. He’s not a big 170-pounder, but he fought at both weight classes with success at both weight classes. So I don’t know. To me, it’s just another guy. I train with 170-pounders all the time at the gym, so to me it’s all the same. I’m walking around at 185, 190 (pounds), so I wouldn’t be a tiny welterweight, but I would be fast. Frankie Edgar-esque.”

On why he wants McDonald over a possible fight with champion Douglas Lima: “Because the Rory fight is a bigger fight, I think. You wait for Rory to beat Lima, and then you make history.”

On why Thomson is a priority: “I don’t think Josh has that many more years left in the sport. I want that fight, so that fight needs to happen sooner than later. He’s getting up there (in cage). So I think it’s smarter for me to take that fight right now. But I want to see Rory come in and do well, and if he fights for the title first or if he doesn’t fight for the title first, we’ll see, but I don’t know.”