Michael Chandler dismisses lightweight title fight, calls out two of Bellator’s top welterweights

Shortly after he defeated Benson Henderson at Bellator 183, Patricky “Pitbull” Freire called for a fight with Bellator lightweight champion Brent Primus. Unfortunately for him, Bellator boss Scott Coker then assured that the next lightweight title shot will probably go to former champion Michael Chandler.

Apparently, however, a rematch with Primus isn’t at the top of Chandler’s list.

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less at this point,” Chandler said during a recent appearance on MMAjunkie Radio. “I just – I want big fights. I’m not necessarily wanting to fight Brent Primus next. At this point, I’ve already sat out for a little while. And they’ve let (Primus) act like he can actually call some shots and decide when he wants to fight.

“I know Scott Coker said something about February, March. That’s out of the question. Because I need to fight. And I want to fight. I’ve been teasing that I would love to go up a weight class and take some challengers there. I’ve got some options.”

So, just who makes Chandler’s list of options at welterweight?

“I’m not just looking to fight; I’m looking to get big fights,” Chandler said. “You only get a small window of opportunity in this sport. Someday I’m going to look back and wonder how many fights kind of flew under the radar for me.

“Paul Daley had a nice, big impressive win this past weekend (over Lorenz Larkin at Bellator 183). That’s a fight that I would like, eventually. The Rory MacDonald fight is a fight that I would like eventually.”

The “nice, big impressive win” from Paul Daley that Michael Chandler is referring to also occurred at Bellator 183, where the British knockout artist snuffed a former top-10 UFC welterweight in Lorenz Larkin.

Who do you want to see Michael Chandler fight next?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 10/1/2017.