Michael Chandler News

Adam Martin - January 3, 2021

A highly-intriguing lightweight bout between Michael Chandler and Dan Hooker is now official for UFC 257 later this month. Chandler vs. Hooker is set to take place on the UFC 257 undercard, behind the main event between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. This bout between Chandler and Hooker was verbally agreed to previously and is now official, according to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, who notes several last-minute hurdles were cleared. UFC 257 takes place on January 23 on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

Adam Martin - December 22, 2020

An exciting lightweight bout between Michael Chandler and Dan Hooker is the latest addition to January’s UFC 257 pay-per-view. Stuff.co.nz confirmed on Tuesday that Chandler vs. Hooker has been verbally agreed to for UFC 257 by both parties and both men have begun their training camps already, according to reporter Jackson Thomas. The UFC is expected to make this fight official in the next couple of days, according to the report. Chandler vs. Hooker will likely be the co-main event behind the UFC 257 between lightweight contender Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. Hooker previously called Chandler out, and now he will get his wish of fighting him.

Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler, one of the newer additions to the UFC roster, has announced that he’s starting fight camp. Chandler signed with the UFC in the fall, and was was immediately slated as the understudy for the UFC 254-headlining lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. In the end, both Nurmagomedov and Gaethje made it to the Octagon that night, which meant Chandler’s services weren’t needed, and his UFC debut was put on ice.

Tom Taylor - November 30, 2020

UFC President Dana White says there is “no hurry” to schedule the UFC debut of former Bellator lightweight champion “Iron” Michael Chandler. Chandler signed with the UFC in the fall, and was was immediately pegged as the understudy for the UFC 254-headlining lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje. In the end, both Nurmagomedov and Gaethje made it to the Octagon that night, which meant Chandler’s services weren’t needed, and his UFC debut was put on ice.

Cole Shelton - November 23, 2020

Michael Chandler reveals the UFC did not offer him the most amount of money during his free agency. Following Chandler’s first-round KO over Benson Henderson, the former Bellator lightweight champion headed to free agency which is something he wanted to do. When he became a free agent, “Iron” admits he wanted to sign with the UFC but it needed to make financial sense.

Adam D Martin - November 22, 2020

UFC president Dana White explained why lightweight Tony Ferguson was booked against Charles Oliveira instead of Michael Chandler at UFC 256. We knew that Ferguson was champing at the bit to get in the Octagon before the year was up, and it seemed for a while that Chandler was going to be his opponent. However, the UFC surprised everyone when it was announced this week that Ferguson would instead be fighting top-ranked contender Charles Oliveira instead. The fight will now take place on the UFC 256 main card, with the winner surely figuring himself into title contention at 155lbs.

Harry Kettle - November 18, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Tony Ferguson has revealed that he’s been told Michael Chandler has accepted another fight. The animosity between these two elite fighters has been steadily growing as the weeks and months have gone on with Ferguson campaigning to fight Chandler before the end of the year. The former Bellator star, however, wants to wait it out and serve as the co-main event on the proposed Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier card in January.

Cole Shelton - November 17, 2020

Michael Chandler is looking to fight Tony Ferguson in 2021. Chandler and Ferguson were first linked to a fight back at UFC 254. However, the former Bellator champ accused “El Cucuy” of turning him down. Ferguson then called for the fight to take place at UFC 256 which Chandler says will not happen. Instead, he believes it should happen as the co-main event to Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier at UFC 257.

Chris Taylor - November 14, 2020

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson is hoping to make 2020 “a little better again” by headlining December’s UFC 256 event. ‘El Cucuy’ took to Twitter last night where he challenged former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler to a showdown this December.

Chris Taylor - November 13, 2020

Former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson has issued a challenge to former Bellator title holder Michael Chandler. Chandler (21-5 MMA) signed with the UFC shortly after scoring a first round knockout victory over Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 this past August. He was immediately booked to serve as the back-up for UFC 254’s Justin Gaethje vs. Khabib Nuramagomedov main event, but thankfully his services were not required that evening in Abu Dhabi.

Tom Taylor - November 12, 2020

Two-division Bellator champ Patricio Freire has shared his thoughts on how Michael Chandler will perform in the UFC’s Octagon. Freire currently holds the Bellator featherweight and lightweight titles, and is slated to defend the former against Pedro Carvalho in the main event of Bellator 252 on Thursday night.

Tom Taylor - November 10, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is setting his sights on a blockbuster fight with MMA superstar Conor McGregor. Chandler signed with the UFC earlier this year, but has yet to make his debut with the promotion.

Tom Taylor - November 9, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has responded to calls for a potential short-notice fight with Rafael dos Anjos. Chandler signed with the UFC earlier this year, but has yet to make his debut with the promotion. Some fans are hoping he’ll make his debut on short notice by stepping in to replace Islam Makhachev against Rafael dos Anjos in the main event of UFC Vegas 14 this weekend.

Chris Taylor - November 6, 2020

Michael Chandler may be new to the UFC, but he has already taken a page out of Jon Jones and Conor McGregor’s playbook by playing tweet and delete. The former Bellator lightweight champion, Chandler (21-5 MMA), took to Twitter during the Presidential Election on Tuesday where he shared the following take which was later deleted.

Adam Martin - November 3, 2020

Recent UFC free-agent signing Michael Chandler is requesting a matchup against either Tony Ferguson or Justin Gaethje for his Octagon debut. Chandler was the backup for the UFC 254 main event between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and Gaethje, but he wasn’t needed as both men made weight and made it to the fight unscathed. A former three-time lightweight champion in Bellator, Chandler ended up getting introduced on the UFC 254 pay-per-view broadcast to UFC fans for the first time. But he went to Fight Island with the hopes of stepping into the cage.

Harry Kettle - October 27, 2020

UFC newcomer Michael Chandler has his sights set on a potential showdown with fellow lightweight contender Justin Gaethje. “The Highlight” failed in his attempt to capture the UFC Lightweight Championship on Saturday night as he was beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC 254. Chandler, on the other hand, simply sat back and watched the action unfold after serving as the back-up fighter for the title bout.

Adam Martin - October 25, 2020

Newly-signed free agent lightweight Michael Chandler is calling for a four-man tournament to crown the new UFC lightweight champion. Chandler finds himself in a tremendous position in the UFC lightweight division despite having not fought yet for the promotion. The UFC tabbed him as the backup fighter for the UFC 254 main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, but he wasn’t needed for the event. With Nurmagomedov retiring from MMA and giving up his title, the lightweight division is now more wide open than it ever has been.

Adam D Martin - October 25, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler reacted after Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 and then retired. Chandler, the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion, signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the UFC after his contract with Bellator expired. As part of his deal with the UFC, Chandler was paid to be the backup fighter for the Nurmagomedov vs. Gaethje fight. Thankfully, both men make it to the fight unscathed and make weight and the fight stayed intact, so Chandler just got back to sit back and watch the show.