Michael Chandler: Justin Gaethje will become UFC champion, beats Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira

Michael Chandler has made a bold claim about Justin Gaethje’s title hopes.

Gaethje (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) captured the “BMF” title with a second-round head kick knockout of Dustin Poirier in this past Saturday’s UFC 291 headliner at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, avenging his 2018 loss to “The Diamond.”

With the win, Gaethje has positioned himself for a title fight against the winner of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev vs. Charles Oliveira, which headlines UFC 294 on Oct. 21 in Abu Dhabi. Regardless of the outcome of that fight, Chandler, who correctly predicted a Gaethje win over Poirier, sees this new and refined version of “The Highlight” beating both Makhachev and Oliveira.

“Justin Gaethje is no longer just a pugilist who goes out there and swings for the fences and wants to brawl,” Chandler said on his YouTube channel. “Justin Gaethje is on a quest to win a world title, and I think Justin Gaethje will go out there and win a world title. Whether it’s Makhachev or Oliveira, Gaethje’s going to get that title fight next.

“I think Justin Gaethje is the UFC lightweight champion by the first quarter of next year. I think he beats Islam. I think he beats Oliveira. Justin Gaethje has cleaned up. He already had all the attributes, he already had the cardio, the speed, the power, he’s got great wrestling defense. He already had all the attributes. But now, him honing in those skills, it’s gonna be tough for one of those dudes to beat him, I think.”

Former interim champion Gaethje has fallen short twice in his quest for undisputed gold – once against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 242, and once against Oliveira at UFC 274. Since losing to Oliveira, Gaethje has rebounded with back-to-back wins over Rafael Fiziev and Poirier.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 291.