Report | Michael Chandler’s Bellator contract nearing expiration, free agency possible

According to a report from ESPN, former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler’s current Bellator contract is set to expire “imminently.”

This news has generated a tidal wave of excitement among fans who are interested in seeing Chandler, long considered one of the world’s premier lightweights, move to the UFC’s Octagon where a bevy of fresh matchups await. According to ESPN’s report, however, Chandler and his team are currently engaged in “productive” negotiations with Bellator, which would seem to imply a high likelihood of his re-signing with the promotion. That said, the report also mentions that Chandler is willing to see what other promotions are prepared to offer too.

Interestingly, Chandler stated during an April appearance on MMAjunkie Radio that he doesn’t imagine he’ll leave the Bellator roster when his contract ends.

“I have no intentions of leaving Bellator,” he said.

“We’ll see what happens, but to me, I don’t think there would be any other interest for me to go anywhere else besides Bellator or the UFC,” he added. “Obviously, I’m very happy with where I’m at right now. But there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t constantly think about this career that I have moving forward.”

Where do you think the former Bellator champ Michael Chandler will wind up?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 6/22/2018.