Khabib Nurmagomedov's Manager Makes Astonishing Claim About Michael Chandler Ahead Of UFC 254

Khabib Nurmagomedov's manager Rizvan Magomedov has appeared to accuse Michael Chandler of doping ahead of a potential fight with the UFC lightweight champion.

Chandler signed with the UFC after the end of his Bellator deal with the 34-year-old set to serve as backup for the UFC 254 main-event.

The lightweight star will travel to 'Fight Island' and make weight as a replacement fighter for either Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje.

And ahead of potentially competing in a UFC championship bout, one of Nurmagomedov's managers has aimed a dig at the American.

Magomedov believes the ex-Bellator lightweight champion will not be the same fighter under UFC's The United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) program.

On Twitter, he wrote: "Great fighter. But do not expect much. Chandler with USADA is not the same fighter. We all saw Will Brooks in UFC."

He referenced Will Brooks who also joined the UFC following a prolific spell in Bellator.

Brooks, who boasts two victories over Chandler, went 1-3 in the UFC as he failed to make an impression inside the Octagon.

Chandler will be hoping for a better run than Brooks in the UFC after inking a deal with the premier MMA organisation.

The Florida-based fighter could make his UFC debut as soon as October 24.

If Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje does indeed go ahead, he predicts the undefeated Russian to defend his title but in "less dominant fashion."

Speaking to ESPN, he said: "You're crazy if you bet against him not being able to take Justin down.

"You're crazy if you think Justin is going to be able to go in there and land combinations at will like he was Tony Ferguson.

"The reason I like the Tony Ferguson fight is, he's a standing target. He's a stationary target. He takes punches in order to give punches later on down the line.

"Khabib's not that guy. Khabib is going to be in Justin's face. We haven't seen Justin back up a lot.

"I think Justin is going to be fighting on his heels a lot, which is never something we've seen him able to do. His leg kicks won't be as effective on his heels. His power punches, his hooks, aren't going to be as effective on his heels.

"And I think we're still going to see, I won't say dominant victory by Khabib, but I think we're going to see a lot of the same Khabib-esque type of fight, just in a less dominant fashion."