Michael Chandler is a professional mixed martial artist who signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in September 2020. He is widely considered one of the best lightweight fighters in the world and has a long list of accolades to his name. In this article, we will take a closer look at Michael Chandler’s background, his rise to fame, and what makes him one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC today.
Born on April 24, 1986, in High Ridge, Missouri, Michael Chandler grew up in a family of athletes. He wrestled in high school and went on to compete at the Division I level in college. After a successful wrestling career, Chandler decided to transition to mixed martial arts and began training at the gym in his hometown. He made his professional debut in 2009 and quickly established himself as a top prospect in the lightweight division.
Over the years, Chandler has competed for several prominent organizations, including Bellator MMA and Strikeforce. He is a three-time Bellator lightweight champion and has won numerous awards, including “Fight of the Year” and “Knockout of the Year.” With a record of 23 wins and 8 losses, Chandler is known for his exceptional grappling skills, powerful striking, and an unbreakable will to win.
In 2020, Chandler signed with the UFC and made his promotional debut in January 2021. In his first fight, he took on Dan Hooker and delivered a dominant performance, earning a first-round knockout victory. With his impressive debut, Chandler immediately established himself as a top contender in the lightweight division and a potential challenger for the title.
Michael Chandler is praised for his relentless drive and determination as a fighter. He is always looking to improve his skills and is never satisfied with just winning. Chandler is known for his exceptional work ethic and his willingness to put in the time and effort required to be the best. He is also known for his charismatic personality and his ability to connect with fans.
Michael Chandler is a force to be reckoned with in the UFC lightweight division. With his impressive skills, relentless determination, and charismatic personality, he is quickly becoming one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the sport.
Here’s the story of Michael Chandler’s UFC career so far:
A remarkable debut
Michael Chandler made his UFC debut against Dan Hooker on January 24, 2021. The fight took place on the main card of UFC 257 and was highly anticipated by fans and analysts alike.
From the opening bell, Chandler came out with a high pace, putting pressure on Hooker and looking to finish the fight early. In the first round, he landed a powerful left hook that dropped Hooker and followed up with several ground-and-pound strikes. The referee stepped in to stop the fight, and Chandler was awarded a first-round knockout victory.
The win was a huge statement for Chandler, who showed off his exceptional striking skills and made an immediate impact in the UFC lightweight division. With this win, Chandler positioned himself as a top contender and a potential challenger for the title in the future. The fight was widely praised by fans and analysts as one of the most impressive UFC debuts in recent memory.
Fighting for the title
Michael Chandler fought Charles Oliveira on May 15, 2021, at UFC 262. This was Chandler’s second fight in the UFC and a highly anticipated match-up.
The fight started with both fighters trading strikes, with Oliveira showing his striking prowess and Chandler showcasing his power. However, in the second round, Oliveira caught Chandler with a quick combination that dropped him to the canvas. Oliveira followed up with ground-and-pound strikes, and the referee stepped in to stop the fight, awarding Charles Oliveira the victory by TKO.
The loss was a setback for Michael Chandler, but it was a highly competitive and exciting fight. Oliveira proved to be a top-level fighter, and the fight demonstrated Chandler’s skills and the excitement that he brings to the Octagon.
Fight of the Year
The main card of UFC 268, held at the historic Madison Square Garden in New York City, kicked off with a bang as Michael Chandler and Justin Gaethje stepped into the Octagon to face off. The two top-ranked lightweight fighters brought their best to the cage, delivering an all-time classic fight that will be remembered for years to come.
From the opening bell, Chandler came out guns blazing, landing heavy shots and stunning Gaethje. However, Gaethje was not one to be intimidated, and he began to lay the foundation for his eventual victory with blistering kicks to Chandler’s lead left leg.
The second round saw Gaethje deliver the decisive blow, dropping Chandler with a perfectly placed right uppercut to the chin. Despite being hurt, Chandler managed to survive the follow-up attack and work his way back to his feet. The two-way brutality continued in the third round, with both fighters landing clean shots and exchanging heavy punches.
When the final bell rang, both fighters had left it all in the cage, and the judges’ scorecards were the only thing left to determine the winner. The final scores were 29-28, 29-28, and 30-27, all in favor of Justin Gaethje, who earned a well-deserved unanimous decision victory.
Gaethje was effusive in his praise of Chandler after the fight, declaring that they should have been fighting to the death in a coliseum. This fight was a true testament to the skills, heart, and bravery of both fighters, and will be remembered as one of the all-time greats in UFC history.
Knockout of the Year
At UFC 274 in May 2022, Michael Chandler delivered one of the most stunning and memorable knockouts in UFC history against Tony Ferguson. The highly anticipated match-up between two of the sport’s biggest stars did not disappoint as both fighters came out swinging in the first round. Despite being dropped by a left hook from Ferguson early on, Chandler showed resilience and managed to recover. The back-and-forth action continued with Ferguson throwing heavy strikes and attempting submissions, while Chandler utilized his grappling skills to control the pace.
In the second round, Chandler stunned the crowd with a perfectly timed front kick that sent Ferguson crashing to the canvas just 17 seconds into the round. The devastating blow marked the first time in Ferguson’s 32 professional fights that he had been knocked out. Chandler’s explosive power was on full display and cemented his place among the elite fighters in the lightweight division.
A step back against Dustin Poirier
At UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden, Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler faced off in a highly-anticipated match that did not disappoint. The two lightweights brought the heat in November 2022, delivering an action-packed fight that saw momentum swing wildly from one fighter to the other.
In the opening round, Chandler started with a flurry of kicks, but was slowed down when Poirier expertly checked one of his leg kicks, causing Chandler’s leg to immediately swell. Poirier then started to gain traction, landing sharp and technical punches, before Chandler fought back with wild punches and takedowns that had Poirier hurt. The round ended with Poirier on the verge of a knockout.
In the second round, Chandler engaged his wrestling roots, taking Poirier down and landing some short punches. However, an elbow from Poirier cut Chandler and he was close to locking in a triangle choke. Despite the damage, Chandler dominated the round.
In the third round, Chandler, visibly fatigued, was slower to engage, eating a few punches from a fresh Poirier. Chandler tried to score a big slam takedown but was quickly taken down by Poirier, who eventually took his back and locked in a rear-naked choke for the tap.
After the fight, Poirier admitted to being nearly finished in the first round, but managed to turn the tide and claim victory.
What’s next?
It has been officially confirmed that Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will be the coaches on the 31st season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The two lightweight stars will go head to head in the Octagon once the reality series ends, which will run from May 30th to August 15th on ESPN and ESPN+.
Chandler has been calling for a fight with McGregor for over a year now and he could not be more excited about the opportunity to finally face him. Despite coming off a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November, Chandler is confident in his abilities and vows to take the fight to McGregor. He even went as far as predicting a stoppage in the highly-anticipated clash.
McGregor is a former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion and he holds the fastest finish in UFC title fight history. The Irish-born fighter has not competed since breaking his left leg in a fight with Poirier in July 2021 and will need to be in the US Anti-Doping Agency’s drug testing pool for at least six months and have two negative tests before he can fight.
Although no date or location has been officially announced for the McGregor-Chandler fight, Chandler believes it should take place in September. This would keep the tension from the reality show as close to the fight as possible and make the most sense for McGregor, who is driven by pay-per-view buys.
The UFC world is eagerly awaiting the highly-anticipated clash between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler. Both fighters bring a wealth of experience and talent to the Octagon, and fans are sure to be in for an exciting and unforgettable fight.
Hi Jack. Just a quick correction. Chandler’s highest finish at the high school state wrestling tournament was 2nd. He wasn’t a state champion. Otherwise, great article on Chandler.