Michael Chandler News

Tom Taylor - May 8, 2018

Late last month, BJJ ace and Conor McGregor training partner Dillon Danis made a successful MMA debut, tapping Kyle Walker with a first-round toe-hold on the main card of Bellator 198. Shortly thereafter, former Bellator lightweight champ Michael Chandler took to Twitter to share his thoughts on Danis. Just catching up to #bellator198 @dillondanis said he was the “highest paid fighter in @BellatorMMA” but I think he meant to say “most un-athletic fighter in Bellator” and that was against a man with a losing record. #cringe #slow #sloth #bellator198

Chris Taylor - April 29, 2018

Michael Chandler blasts Dillon Danis following Bellator 198 Submission specialist Dillon Danis picked up a first-round submission victory over Kyle Walker on the main card of last night’s Bellator 198 event in Chicago.

Tom Taylor - April 18, 2018

The lightweight division could not be interesting right now. The undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov now sits on the UFC lightweight throne, while Tony Ferguson recovers from surgery, and Conor McGregor adds an ever-present asterisk to the lightweight title situation. Then there are dangerous UFC lightweight contenders like Dustin Poirier, Eddie Alvarez, Al Iaquinta, Kevin Lee, and Edson Barboza. And of course, there are the countless top lightweight talents who currently reside outside the UFC, like Bellator staple Michael Chandler. Speaking on MMAJunkie Radio this week, Chandler delved deep on the state of the lightweight division. While he’s certainly paying attention to the goings-on over in the UFC, however, he has no intention of leaving Bellator when his current contract wraps up.

Drake Riggs - April 12, 2018

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distresses. He caused the storm to be still so that the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they were quiet, so he guided them to their desired haven… This isn’t always the case in MMA…not even close. As our combat-loving gods have shown over the years, they are very, very, very merciless. The evidence can be seen with the entire fight week leading up to UFC 223 this past week. On April Fools Day of all days out of the 365 days in a year, the UFC announced to the world that interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson had been injured out of his main event title fight with Khabib Nurmagomedov. That by itself was enough to put everyone into a frenzy of disbelief.

Tom Taylor - September 25, 2017

On Saturday night, in the main event of Bellator 183, long-time Bellator lightweight contender Patricky “Pitbull” Freire picked up a close decision win over former UFC and WEC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. In the moments after this win, Freire called for a fight with reigning Bellator lightweight champion Brent Primus, who captured the title from Michael Chandler back in June. “I want the champion,” Pitbull said. “I want Brent Primus. Tonight I took down another former champion and I want my shot at that belt. He keeps running from me but now it’s time. I want that belt and after tonight I earned my shot at it. Benson Henderson is a good, tough fighter, but I’ve got my mind on the division title now. You can’t keep running Primus.”

Tom Taylor - August 20, 2017

Earlier this weekend, former UFC welterweight title challenger Rory MacDonald began to express his frustration with Bellator’s failure to keep him active. Speaking out on social media, the Canadian star claimed that he hoped to fight again this year, but that the promotion couldn’t make it happen, and that he was getting impatient. unfortunately no 4 this year, i was pushing very hard 2 fight atleast once more this year but it doesnt look like it will happen

Chris Taylor - June 24, 2017

Bellator NYC Results: Michael Chandler vs. Brent Primus A lightweight title fight between current champion Michael Chandler and top division contender Brent Primus took place during tonight’s “Bellator NYC” main card on pay-per-view.

Tom Taylor - November 19, 2016

On Saturday night, Bellator MMA returned to the SAP Center in San Jose, California with Bellator 165. In the card’s main event, reigning Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler attempted to defend his title against former WEC and UFC lightweight titleholder Benson Henderson. Though Chandler would ultimately succeed on this mission, Henderson did not make it easy for him.

Chris Taylor - September 4, 2016

Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler (15-3 MMA) is very familiar with current UFC lightweight title holder Eddie Alvarez. Alvarez and Chandler engaged in two epic wars while fighting under the Bellator banner, with Chandler submitting Alvarez in the pairs first encounter, and Eddie being awarded a judges split-decision in their second lightweight title affair.

Tom Taylor - August 31, 2016

Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler’s immediate future looks like it could get very interesting. We know that he’ll be taking on former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson on November 19. Should he pass that test, Chandler can then look forward to a scrap with another UFC veteran in Josh Thompson, and perhaps even to a scrap with former Bellator featherweight champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Yet on his Monday appearance on The MMA Hour, Chandler explained to host Ariel Helwani that his big-ticket possibilities don’t end there either. Instead, he said he’d be interested in a possible move up to 170lbs to fight recent Bellator signee Rory MacDonald.