Michael Chandler News

Adam Martin - October 29, 2019

A rematch between former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler and former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson has been added to Bellator Japan. Bellator recently announced the rematch, which will serve as the co-main event on the Bellator Japan card, which takes place on December 29 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The fight will be contested at a catchweight of 160lbs.

Drake Riggs - May 16, 2019

Historically, there are few if any fighters in Bellator that have achieved more in the promotion than the three-time lightweight champion, Michael Chandler. Perhaps the obvious one who we could say has achieved more and is now the greatest fighter in Bellator history is none other than the man to defeat Chandler this past weekend, the current featherweight champion and now lightweight champion, Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire.

Tom Taylor - May 13, 2019

Over the weekend, in the main event of the finish-filled Bellator 221 card, Michael Chandler attempted to defend the lightweight strap against featherweight champ and arch rival Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Unfortunately for Chandler, who is one of Bellator’s most visible stars, this fight went quite disastrously. Moments into the first round, he was stung by a Pitbull punch, and seconds later, the fight was being waved off by the referee. Yet Chandler has been adamant that he wasn’t in any real trouble, and that he deserved more time to recover.

Chris Taylor - May 11, 2019

Lightweight champion Michael Chandler put his title on the line against bitter rival and current featherweight champion Patricio Freire in tonight’s Bellator 221 main event. Michael Chandler (19-4 MMA) reclaimed the Bellator lightweight title at December’s Bellator 212 event, this by defeating Brent Primus via unanimous decision. Chandler enters tonight’s headliner having won seven of his past eight fights, which includes a knockout win over Patricio’s brother Patricky.

Chris Taylor - December 15, 2018

Patricio and Patricky Freire were not impressed by the performance of Michael Chandler at last night’s Bellator 212 event in Hawaii. Chandler handed Brent Primus his first career loss in last night’s headliner, thus reclaiming his Bellator lightweight world title.

Chris Taylor - December 14, 2018

The lightweight belt was on the line in tonight’s Bellator 212 main event as reigning division champion Brent Primus squared off with former title holder Michael Chandler. Michael Chandler had previously surrendered his Bellator lightweight world title to Brent Primus in June of 2017, this after suffering a leg injury that resulted in an eventual TKO.

Drake Riggs - December 10, 2018

Former two-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has undeniably established himself as one of the best fighters outside of the UFC. At Bellator 212, he looks to reclaim the title that he controversially lost.

Mike Straus - December 6, 2018

Two-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is on a mission to get his title back. And he is willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal. Chandler, 32, is one of the best 155-pound fighters in the world. He is arguably Bellator MMA’s best athlete and has been the promotions go-to guy for the last few years. And boy does he want his lightweight title back.

Tom Taylor - October 11, 2018

On December 15, Bellator will touch down in Honolulu, Hawaii with Bellator 211. The card will be headlined by a women’s flyweight title fight between Hawaiian champ Ilima-Lei MacFarlane, and co-headlined by a middleweight scrap between former UFC champ Lyoto Machida and former Bellator champ Rafael Carvalho. Amazingly, this stacked card is not all that Bellator is offering the fans in Hawaii, who have been waiting years for major MMA show. The night before this card, in the very same Honolulu venue, the promotion will honor the military with a card titled ‘Salute the Troops,’ which will be free for members of the US armed forces and their friends and families.

Drake Riggs - September 25, 2018

The Bellator lightweight title rematch that we’ve been waiting for seems to finally be finding a spot where it can take place. Well…a date anyway! On June 24, 2017, Bellator took their talents to Madison Square Garden for the first time ever as three titles were on the line that night. One of those titles was the prestigious lightweight crown.

Tom Taylor - August 22, 2018

For a moment, it looked possible that former Bellator MMA lightweight champion Michael Chandler might leave his long-time home and sign with another promotion. In the end, however, Chandler has reportedly resigned with Bellator. This, per ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, who says Bellator pursued Chandler “hard.”

Drake Riggs - August 20, 2018

When two fighters put on two of the greatest fights ever seen in MMA history…who wouldn’t want to see a third and final bout? This is the case with two of the lightweight division’s very best, Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez.

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