Michael Chandler News

Tom Taylor - September 22, 2020

Charles Oliveira is not happy that Michael Chandler has been tapped as the back-up fighter for the UFC 254 main event on October 24. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion, recently signed with the UFC. While he does not yet have an opponent for his Octagon debut, he has agreed to step in if either UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov or interim champ Justin Gaethje fails to make it to their planned title fight at UFC 254.

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2020

Michael Chandler has signed with the UFC and has already been tapped as the back-up fighter for the UFC 254 main event. UFC 254 goes down on October 24 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between undefeated champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion, will be on-call in Abu Dhabi, and ready to step in should either man fail to make it to the cage on fight night.

Adam D Martin - September 18, 2020

UFC president Dana White says he is “very excited” about adding former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler to the UFC roster. On Thursday, White announced that the UFC has signed Chandler to a free-agent contract. His first task with the UFC will be to be the backup fighter for the UFC 254 main event between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Justin Gaethje. It was a massive free-agent signing for the UFC as Chandler is widely considered by fans and media to be a top-10 lightweight in all of MMA.

Adam D Martin - September 18, 2020

New UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has released his first statement since leaving Bellator and signing with the UFC. Chandler is a former three-time Bellator lightweight champion and for years he has been one of the top 155lbers outside of the UFC. On Thursday, UFC president Dana White confirmed the world’s leading MMA promotion has signed Chandler and he has been officially named as the backup for the upcoming UFC 254 lightweight title fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Justin Gaethje.

Adam Martin - September 17, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee shared an interesting theory on why the UFC signed prized free agent fighter Michael Chandler to a deal. UFC president Dana White announced on Thursday that his organization signed the former Bellator lightweight champion Chandler to a free agent contract and he will be the official backup for the UFC 254 lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Michael Chandler. It was massive news that got the entire MMA world talking, particularly about the part seeing Chandler potentially getting a title shot.

Tom Taylor - September 17, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has officially signed with the UFC, and has already been tapped as an understudy for the UFC 254 main event. UFC 254 will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje. Should either man fail to make it into the cage, Chandler will be called upon to replace them.

Tom Taylor - September 16, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is reportedly being considered as a potential opponent for former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. After knocking out Benson Henderson at Bellator 243, Chandler entered in a period of free agency. Buzz about his potential move to the UFC was immediate.

Harry Kettle - September 14, 2020

UFC president Dana White has confirmed that he has held talks with popular free agent Michael Chandler. Fans and media members alike have been speculating over the future of Chandler after it was confirmed he’d be moving into free agency following his last Bellator fight.

Adam Martin - September 2, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler says he is interested in moving up to welterweight to fight Leon Edwards in the UFC. Chandler, a three-time lightweight champion in Bellator, recently became a free agent and is currently fielding offers from other promotions. Although a return to Bellator is always possible, he has been connected to the UFC, ONE Championship and the PFL in free agency, and he is expected to make his decision on his new home in the upcoming weeks.

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020

After knocking out Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 earlier this month, Michael Chandler, the promotion’s former lightweight champ, is now a free agent. As one of the biggest stars Bellator has produced to date, Chandler can almost certainly expect lucrative offers from some of the sport’s biggest organizations. He’s already expressed interest in a potential move to the UFC, and UFC President Dana White has reciprocated that interest. Chandler has also discussed a potential move to ONE Championship, where a compelling trilogy fight with his chief rival Eddie Alvarez could await.

Natasha Hooper - August 21, 2020

Michael Chandler what he views as his perfect matchup. The lightweight champion has teased the possibility of a move over to the UFC after completing his current contract with the Bellator. He criticized the organization’s CEO Scott Coker for not placing an extension on his contract, and wants to fight wherever he is valued.

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2020

Patricio Freire, who holds the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles, expects his former foe Michael Chandler to sign with ONE Championship. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champ, recently concluded his current Bellator contract with a knockout win over former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson.

Tom Taylor - August 16, 2020

UFC President Dana White would love to talk to former Bellator lightweight champion and new free agent “Iron” Michael Chandler. White was asked about Chandler, who recently reached the end of his latest Bellator contract, at the UFC 252 post-fight press conference.

Chris Taylor - August 8, 2020

Former Bellator champion Michael Chandler has a ton of respect for Conor McGregor but believes he would make him “see Jesus” in a potential fight. Chandler made the final appearance of his current contract in last night’s Bellator 243 headliner for a rematch with Benson Henderson. The pair had previously squared off in November of 2016, with Chandler emerging victorious by way of judges split-decision.

Chris Taylor - August 7, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler squared off with Benson Henderson for a second time in tonight’s Bellator 243 event. In the pairs first encounter back at Bellator 165 in November of 2016, it was Chandler who emerged victorious by way of split-decision.

Chris Taylor - August 7, 2020

Former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson squared off with Michael Chandler for a second time in tonight’s Bellator 243 main event. The pair of lightweight standouts first met at Bellator 165 in November of 2016 with Chandler emerging victorious by way of split decision.

Cole Shelton - August 5, 2020

In the main event of Bellator 243, Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson are having a rematch nearly four years in the making. The first fight took place in 2016 where Chandler won a split decision. Heading into the rematch, Chandler is a -235 favorite while the former UFC champion is a +185 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to get their predictions for the scrap. The pros believe the three-time Bellator lightweight champion in Chandler will get his hand raised again.

Harry Kettle - July 15, 2020

According to a recent report from Combate, Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson’s proposed rematch is set to go down on August 7. The two veterans last fought back at Bellator 165 in November 2016, and on that night, Chandler beat Henderson via split decision to retain the Bellator Lightweight Championship. They were first scheduled to run it back in December 2019 for Bellator’s co-promotion event with Rizin in Japan, but an injury for Henderson ensured that didn’t happen.