Former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez believes he knows how Michael Chandler can emerge victorious in his upcoming fight with Conor McGregor, which is expected to take place later this year.
Alvarez knows both Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor all too well, having went 1-1 with Alvarez in the Bellator promotion and also lost his UFC title to McGregor, and knowing both there skill-sets he believes that it would be a mistake for Chandler to just try and outstrike the Irish superstar.
“Mike Chandler is a hell of an athlete,” Alvarez told ESPN. “I just think stylistically, the way he’s been fighting and the strategy he’s been going about fighting isn’t the way to get it done against Conor McGregor. And I would implore him if I was his coach to change his style, to go for single legs, to go for shots, and force Conor to wrestle early.
“You have to force him to wrestle early so he don’t have the powerful tools that he’s able to take advantage of (against) all these other guys – quick feet, good range, great striking. You take that away when you wrestle him early. Wrestle him early enough and tire his shoulders down, tire his legs down, slow him down, and he’s half the striker that he can be when he’s fully energized.”
Alvarez went on to suggest that the 34-year-old McGregor is unlikely to be the fighter he once was in his prime after his leg break and long spell on the sidelines, but he still believes that he will be a dangerous foe to deal with.
“Hell of a fight and a lot of questions would be answered with Conor’s time off,” Alvarez said. “Conor, of course, is not going to be the same Conor that he was back during his Jose Aldo, Nate Diaz, myself when he was fighting them, you know. He was quite active.
“He was fighting three and four times a year. So we wouldn’t expect the same exact guy who was excited about winning world titles, but will we see that resurgence of energy, enjoyment and excitement and gratitude toward the game of MMA? And I feel like we will.”
