Matt Brown says Michael Chandler 'clearly not UFC level' at 2-6

Matt Brown believes Michael Chandler should either retire or leave the UFC after dropping to 2-6 in the promotion with a first-round knockout loss to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC White House earlier this month.

The 40-year-old former Bellator champion is now four fights removed from his last octagon win, and Brown told The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast that Chandler's lengthy slide proves his time at the top has passed. "He's clearly not a UFC level guy though at 2-6," Brown said, per MMA Fighting. "You can't do that."

What Chandler's record says about his UFC tenure

Brown questioned how Chandler remains a marquee name despite compiling just two wins in eight UFC appearances. One came in his promotional debut against Dan Hooker, who still ranks at lightweight. The other was a front-kick knockout of Tony Ferguson during an eight-fight skid that eventually ended Ferguson's UFC run. Brown dismissed the Ferguson finish as "almost irrelevant" given where the veteran was in his career.

Chandler has delivered entertainment even in defeat, producing Fight of the Year candidates against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. He also nearly stopped Charles Oliveira before getting knocked out in the second round of their title bout. But Brown said those performances do not build enough equity to justify continued opportunities on a four-fight losing streak.

The retired welterweight contrasted Chandler's situation with fighters like B.J. Penn, who earned more runway because of their championship legacy. "Michael Chandler hasn't done anything for the UFC," Brown said. "He sold some tickets and some pay-per-views and stuff. He hasn't accomplished anything in the UFC."

Brown suggested Chandler could still find success in bare-knuckle boxing or other promotions outside the UFC. Chandler has not hinted at retirement and vowed to return after the Ruffy loss. He is more than four years removed from his last win in the octagon.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — Matt Brown argues Michael Chandler ‘clearly not a UFC level guy’ anymore after latest loss at UFC White House | MMA Fighting