Michael Chandler

Michael Chandler (born April 24, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Chandler previously competed for Bellator MMA from 2010 through 2020 where he became a three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion and was the winner of the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. As of April 16, 2024, he is #7 in the UFC lightweight rankings.[12]

Chandler was born and raised in High Ridge, Missouri, the second of four children to Michael Sr. and Betty Chandler. He is of German and Irish heritage. Chandler was on the honor roll every term in high school, received three letters in football, and finished as the runner–up at the MSHSAA State Championships as a senior in wrestling. He was voted the Most Valuable Wrestler during his senior season and was selected to the All-St. Louis Team.[13][14]

Upon graduating from Northwest High School in 2004, Chandler enrolled at the University of Missouri without an athletic scholarship, walking onto the school's wrestling squad. While at Missouri, Chandler was a four-time NCAA Division I qualifier, collected 100 career wins, as well as earning fifth place at NCAA's as a senior, earning DI All-American honors. Chandler earned runner–up honors in the 2008 and 2009 Big 12 Championships and was awarded automatic bids to three of the four NCAA Championships he competed in. Chandler compiled a 31–15 record against Big 12 opponents and a 100–40 overall record in his four years as a starter.[13] He majored in personal finance management services with a minor in real estate.[14] He also built a close relationship with two–time Dan Hodge Trophy winner and eventual Bellator MMA World Champion Ben Askren and two–time All–American and eventual UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley.[15]

Immediately after his wrestling career was over, Chandler began training mixed martial arts at Xtreme Couture. He opted out of competing as an amateur and in August 2009, Chandler made his professional MMA debut with a first-round TKO victory over Kyle Swadley.[16]

Chandler made his Strikeforce debut on November 20, 2009, at Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears where he fought Richard Bouphanouvong, He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round.[17]

His next fight in the promotion took place on May 15, 2010, at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery where he fought Sal Wood.[18] He won the bout via submission in under a minute.[19]

Chandler made his Bellator debut on September 30, 2010, at Bellator 31, where he defeated Scott Stapp via technical knockout in the first round.[20] The match was contested at a catchweight for Chandler to test himself for the lightweight division, all his previous bouts being in the welterweight division.[21]

In his next Bellator appearance, Chandler competed on the Bellator 32 card on October 14, 2010, against Chris Page in a welterweight contest. He won the bout via submission in the first round.[22]

In February 2011, it was announced that Chandler would be a part of the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament.[23] In the opening round of the tournament, Chandler faced Marcin Held, at Bellator 36 on March 12, 2011.[24] He won the contest via technical submission after choking Held unconscious with an arm-triangle choke. The win moved Chandler into the semi-finals.[25]

Chandler then faced Lloyd Woodard at Bellator 40 and won via unanimous decision to move onto the finals of the tournament.[26]

The tournament final took place at Bellator 44 where Chandler faced Patricky Pitbull.[27] He utilized his wrestling skills, repeatedly taking down Freire and controlling the fight. He defeated Freire via unanimous decision to win $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator Lightweight World Championship.[28]

Chandler was expected to compete against Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator Lightweight World Championship at Bellator 54 on October 15, 2011.[29] However, Alvarez suffered an undisclosed injury forcing the bout to be postponed.[30] The bout was then rescheduled to take place on November 19, 2011, at Bellator 58.[31] Chandler defeated Eddie Alvarez via submission in the fourth round.[32]

In his first fight after winning the title, Chandler faced Akihiro Gono in a non-title superfight at Bellator 67 on May 4, 2012.[33] He won the match via technical knockout at just 56 seconds into the first round.[34]

Chandler made the first defense of his title against Bellator Season Six Lightweight Tournament Winner Rick Hawn, on January 17, 2013, at Bellator 85.[35] He won the bout via submission in the second round.[36]

Chandler was set to make his second defense against Bellator Season Seven Lightweight Tournament Winner Dave Jansen June 19, 2013, at Bellator 96.[37] However, on June 2, it was announced that Jansen had pulled out of the bout due to an injury[38] and faced David Rickels at Bellator 97 instead.[39] He won the bout via knockout in the first round.[40]

A rematch with Eddie Alvarez took place on November 2, 2013, in the main event of Bellator 106.[41] He lost the match by split decision.[42]

A third fight with Alvarez was set up for the main event of Bellator 120 on May 17, 2014.[43] However, a week before the bout, it was announced that Alvarez had suffered a concussion and was forced to pull out of the fight.[44] Chandler instead faced Will Brooks for the interim lightweight title.[45] He lost the back-and-forth bout by split decision.[46]

With Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez leaving the promotion, Chandler faced Will Brooks in a rematch on November 15, 2014, at Bellator 131 for the vacant lightweight title.[47] He lost the bout via technical knockout in the fourth round.[48]

Chandler faced Derek Campos on June 19, 2015, at Bellator 138.[49] After a dominant start on the feet, including a knockdown, he won the match via submission in the first round.[50]

Chandler rematched David Rickels on November 6, 2015, at Bellator 145.[51] He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round.[52]

In May 2016, Bellator MMA president Scott Coker announced that Chandler would rematch Patricky Pitbull on June 17, 2016, at Bellator 157, now for the vacant Bellator Lightweight Championship.[53] He regained the title after knocking Pitbull out in the first round.[54]

In his first title defense, Chandler faced former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson on November 19, 2016, in the main event of Bellator 165.[55] He won the back-and-forth bout via split decision.[56]

In his second title defense, Chandler faced Brent Primus on June 24, 2017, at Bellator NYC.[57] In the first round, the bout was temporarily halted by the referee to check on Chandler, whose left ankle was visibly injured. The bout was stopped in favor of Primus via technical knockout, earning him the Bellator Lightweight Championship.[58]

Following the loss to Primus, Chandler remained out of action for the remainder of 2017. He made his return at Bellator 192 on January 20, 2018, against Goiti Yamauchi.[59] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[60]

In a rematch, Chandler was expected to challenge Brent Primus for the Bellator Lightweight Championship on April 13, 2018, at Bellator 197.[61] After Primus pulled out of the fight due to injury, Chandler faced Brandon Girtz on the same card.[62] He won the fight via technical submission in the first round.[63]

In late June 2018, reports surfaced that Chandler's contract with Bellator would expire imminently, making him a free agent.[64] On August 22, 2018, it was announced that Chandler had re-signed a new, exclusive multi-fight contract with Bellator MMA.[65]

Chandler's anticipated rematch with Brent Primus took place on December 14, 2018, at Bellator 212.[66] Chandler dominated the majority of the fight by out-wrestling Primus, ultimately defeating him by unanimous decision and regaining the Bellator Lightweight World title in the process.[67]

In the first defense of his new title, Chandler faced Patrício Pitbull on May 11, 2019, in the main event of Bellator 221.[68] He lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[69]

On October 25, 2019, it was announced that Chandler would return to cage to rematch Benson Henderson at Bellator & Rizin: Japan on December 29, 2019.[70] However, Henderson was forced to withdraw from the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Sidney Outlaw in an 160 pounds catchweight bout.[71] He defeated Outlaw via knockout in the first round.[72]

A rematch with Benson Henderson was rescheduled to take place at Bellator 244 on June 6, 2020.[73] However, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[74] and eventually took place on August 7, 2020, at Bellator 243.[75] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[76]

In August 2020 it was reported that Chandler was a free agent following his victory at Bellator 243.[77]

On September 17, 2020, it was announced that Chandler had signed a contract with the UFC and served as a backup for a title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.[78]

Chandler made his promotional debut against Dan Hooker at UFC 257 on January 24, 2021.[79] He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[80] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[81]

Chandler faced long–time veteran Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship, following former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement, while headlining UFC 262 on May 15, 2021.[82] Despite having success in the first round and nearly finishing Oliveira, Chandler lost the fight via technical knockout early in the second round.[83]

Chandler faced former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 on November 6, 2021.[84] After a back-and-forth fight, Chandler lost the bout via unanimous decision.[85] This bout earned the Fight of the Night award.[86] The bout was also regarded as the Fight of the Year by the UFC and various mixed martial arts media outlets.[87][88][89][90][91][92][93][94][95]

Chandler faced former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson on May 7, 2022, at UFC 274.[96] He won the fight in the second round after knocking out Ferguson with a front kick.[97] The win earned Chandler his second Performance of the Night bonus award.[98] It also earned him the second place Crypto.com "Fan Bonus of the Night" award.[99]

Chandler faced former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281.[100] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.[101] This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.[102]

Chandler and Conor McGregor were coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 31 which started filming in February 2023[103] and aired on television from May to August 2023.[104] This culminated with Chandler being scheduled to face Conor McGregor in a welterweight bout at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024.[105]

Chandler started dating Brie Willett in 2013 after emailing for almost two years. Subsequently, they got married in 2014.[106] The couple grew their family through adoption in 2017, welcoming their son Hap.[107] In April 2022, their second adoptive son Ace was born.[108]

Chandler owns Training Camp, a fitness and MMA gym in Nashville.[109]

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