“This guy has never seen a Michael Chandler fight” – ‘Iron’ reacts to Josh Barnett calling for MMA rule structure change

Michael Chandler voiced his response to MMA trailblazer Josh Barnett’s assertion that the sport needs significant modifications.

Despite facing heavy criticism, many fighters, including Jon Jones and Conor McGregor, have continued to pave the way for MMA. One individual who deserves recognition for their contributions is Barnett, who, at the young age of 24, became the UFC heavyweight champion in 2002 after defeating Randy Couture.

Even after twenty years, Barnett remains committed to his training in MMA and remains successful in professional wrestling. In a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, ‘The Warmaster’ shared his thoughts on the current state of the sport:

“The rule structure of MMA has to change because we’ve already gamed it, the system is gamed. Five minutes has been figured out, how to work that five minutes, stay mostly as a kickboxer, only score your takedowns when you need to.”

Barnett went on to say:

“If you do score that takedown, you know they are getting right back up again. So, it’s really not even about establishing control on the ground. When you look at submission work anymore, it’s essentially sleeper holds, rear-naked chokes if you want to use that terminology.”

MMA Fighting shared the video of Barnett’s remarks on Instagram. In response, UFC lightweight sensation Chandler commented:

“This guy has never seen a Michael Chandler fight….”

See the complete explanation from Josh Barnett in the video below:

What’s Next for Michael Chandler’s UFC Career?

In November 2022, Michael Chandler’s UFC record fell to 2-3 after he suffered a third-round submission defeat against Dustin Poirier. Following this loss, Chandler has been on a break while anticipating the comeback of Conor McGregor. The two are set to face each other after serving as coaches on ‘The Ultimate Fighter Season 31’.

The highly anticipated McGregor vs. Chandler bout has faced multiple delays due to various factors such as USADA eligibility, injuries, and movie commitments. However, it appears that both the UFC superstar and the organization are in agreement for the fight to finally occur this summer.

The exact date and location of McGregor and Chandler’s fight remains uncertain. However, it is expected to garner significant global interest, considering both fighters are known for their thrilling performances and promotional skills.