Bellator Lightweight Champ, Michael Chandler tells BJPenn.com’s Fist-ta-CUFF he believes in he is a product of his environment and states his hard work stems from his parents – his father who started off as a carpenter union worker & worked his way up to superintendent while his mom always had a job or sometimes 2.  In addition to getting into the sport of wrestling, Chandler states

“There is no harder working, more discipline, mentally tougher, physically tougher people in the world than the wrestlers out there in the world and more specifically the division 1 wrestlers.

Being able to go through a program like University of Missouri’s working my butt off just continuing to build and build and build that work ethic.

Laziness is contagious just like hard work is.  I didn’t give myself an opportunity to be lazy and I didn’t surround myself with people who were lazy.

Something about going to the gym or going to a workout or doing something – that you’re not going as hard as you can or putting forth you best effort just seems wrong and counterproductive.  It’s the obligation I feel to do the best I can with this opportunity and become a world champion in my division.

I Plan on becoming the best lightweight in the world and not sacrificing this blessing and this gift that god gave me.  Go out there and be in a sport like MMA, compete in a sport like MMA and make a living and get to do interviews and all this kind of stuff.  I’m leaving tomorrow to Irvine, CA to fight in front of thousands of people to be on Spike TV in front of potentially a couple of million people.

When you think about how truly blessed we are as Mixed Martial Artist, professional athletes and the lifestyle we get to live and you’re down right ludicrous if you don’t take every opportunity you can to be the best fighter you can possibly can be.  That’s kind of my mindset.”

Click here to listen to the entire interview

Chandler will defend his title opposite Season 5 tournament winner Rick Hawn Jan 17, 2013 from the Bren Event Center in Irvine, CA The main card will air on Spike TV with the entire prelim card streaming live on the web at Spike.com or Bellator.

You can listen to the full interview using the player below:

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