Michael Chandler News

Harry Kettle - November 17, 2020

According to a recent report, it’s looking unlikely that Tony Ferguson will be joining the UFC 256 card next month. Ferguson, who hasn’t fought since his devastating loss to Justin Gaethje earlier this year, wants to put himself back in position for a shot at the UFC Lightweight Championship. In order to do that, however, he needs to remain active – and the fact that he’s been calling for a fight against Michael Chandler before the end of 2020 seems to indicate he’s ready to go.

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

Rafael dos Anjos is not impressed with Michael Chandler after the former Bellator champ turned down a short-notice fight at UFC Vegas 13. Dos Anjos, the former UFC lightweight champion, was originally expected to take on Islam Makhachev in the main event of UFC Vegas 13, which goes down this Saturday on ESPN+. When Makhachev withdrew from the fight, however, he called on Chandler, who has yet to make his UFC debut, to step in.

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.

Chris Taylor - October 25, 2020

Perennial UFC lightweight contender Dan Hooker took exception to some of the comments made by Michael Chandler during yesterday’s UFC 254 broadcast. After Phil Hawes scored a sensational knockout win over Jacob Malkoun on yesterday’s pay-per-view main card, the UFC released a promo for recent free agent signing Michael Chandler.

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.

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2020

UFC President Dana White is floating the idea of a lightweight No. 1 contender fight between Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler. Ferguson stood out as the top contender in the lightweight division for many years, but after having a 12-fight win-streak derailed by Justin Gaethje in May, is now looking to reestablish himself. Chandler, on the other hand, is a former Bellator champion, and recently signed with the UFC to much acclaim.

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has explained why he wasn’t interested in fighting Islam Makhachev on short-notice. Chandler, who has yet to make his UFC debut, is on standby on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi in the event that Khabib Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje is unable to compete in the UFC 254 headliner this weekend. Makhachev, meanwhile, was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos on the card, but was forced off the bill when the UFC couldn’t find him a replacement opponent after a dos Anjos injury.

Andrew Whitelaw - October 20, 2020

Michael Chandler is still eyeing a dance with Tony Ferguson for his first fight in the UFC. The pair were briefly intended to be the co-main event at UFC 254, but an agreement could not be reached. Speaking at the UFC 254 virtual media day, Chandler admitted that provided he doesn’t fight this weekend, “El Cucuy” is his preferred next opponent.

Adam Martin - October 11, 2020

UFC lightweight Michael Chandler says he is still open to fighting Tony Ferguson in the co-main event of UFC 254 later this month. Chandler, the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion, recently signed a lucrative free-agent deal with the UFC. As part of that deal, Chandler has been tabbed as the official backup for the UFC 254 main event between UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Justin Gaethje. However, he has also been connected to a fight against Ferguson. It hasn’t been booked yet, but Chandler still wants that fight.

Cole Shelton - October 7, 2020

Michael Chandler is not happy with Tony Ferguson. Earlier on Wednesday, Ferguson was not happy with Chandler and what he was making in the UFC. He also didn’t like that the former Bellator lightweight champion is the backup fighter for UFC 254.

Tom Taylor - October 1, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is “extremely confident” he could beat UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, as it’s a fight he’s been preparing for for years. Chandler just made the jump from Bellator to the UFC, and has yet to make his debut in the Octagon. However, he’s had his eye on Nurmagomedov, who he forecasted as a future champion, for a long time.

Harry Kettle - September 24, 2020

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has made it crystal clear that he is interested in a fight against promotional newcomer Michael Chandler. Hooker, who is coming off the back of a narrow loss to Dustin Poirier, has never been shy when it comes to calling out those in his division that he wants to fight. The aforementioned Chandler has finally made the jump over to the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is expected to serve as the back-up fighter for UFC 254’s main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.