Chandler says he would pick Diaz up and ‘slam him on his neck’
“There’s no doubt I would pick Nate Diaz up (and) slam him on his neck”.
Michael Chandler is currently focused on making an impression in his UFC debut against Dan Hooker at UFC 257, but the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion also has his sights set on Nate Diaz.
Chandler would love to welcome Diaz back to the octagon and pick the Californian up and ‘slam him on his neck.’
“There’s no doubt I would pick Nate Diaz up (and) slam him on his neck,” Chandler said in a recent Instagram Live session (h/t Essentially Sports). “That long, skinny, fat body. He’s out of shape, he hasn’t really fought much in the last few years. So, I’d be down with that. Midwest boy from High Ridge, Missouri, fighting the kid from Lodi, California. I would love that. So, we shall see.”
UFC president Dana White teased that Diaz would return to the octagon in 2021 but didn’t reveal any specifics regarding a possible date or opponent.
“We’re working on a Nate Diaz fight right now (at) lightweight and it is not Tony, but if we get it done, I think you’re gonna like it. It would put him in a really good position if he won the fight and the guy who he could potentially be fighting, I think it’s a great fight for him too.”
Diaz hasn’t fought since his TKO loss (doctor stoppage) to Jorge Masvidal back in November 2019 while Chandler is riding a two-fight win streak against Sidney Outlaw and Benson Henderson, finishing both men via first-round KO.
Chandler has vowed to start ‘calling some shots’ in the UFC after he takes care of business against ‘The Hangman’ in the UFC 257 co-main event next weekend. The highly anticipated pay-per-view, which features a headlining lightweight bout between Dustin Poirier and Conor McGregor, takes pace on Jan. 23 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.