UFC: Michael Chandler apologises for criticism of Dustin Poirier – ‘maybe I was a little bit too harsh’
- ‘Maybe the word quit was not the right word to use,’ Chandler says after shaming Poirier for tapping out to Charles Oliveira
- Former Bellator champ admits he has a ‘bone to pick’ with Poirier, however – ‘he’s dismissed me since day one’
Michael Chandler has walked back his comments shaming Dustin Poirier for tapping out to UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira this month.
The 35-year-old American (22-7) blasted Poirier for “quitting” in a series of tweets posted immediately after his submission defeat by the Brazilian at UFC 269 in Las Vegas.
“I will admit, maybe I was a little bit too harsh, maybe the word ‘quit’ was not the right word to use,” former Bellator champion Chandler told MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin on The Fighter vs The Writer.
“I also think Dustin Poirier has dismissed me since day one. I don’t think he’s a bad guy. I don’t think he thinks I’m a bad guy. But as a competitor he called me and Charles fighting ‘fool’s gold’ and he dismissed me saying he wouldn’t fight me in the UFC even after I knocked out Dan Hooker.
“I don’t think he’s a bad guy. He’s a great guy, a phenomenal ambassador for the sport. But when it comes to the competition aspect, fighting in the same division, I think we both have a bit of a bone to pick with each other.”
Oliveira (32-8, 1 no contest) claimed the vacant lightweight title by knocking out Chandler in a dramatic second-round comeback, having seen the American fend off his rear-naked choke attempt in the first round.
