Michael Chandler explains why losing to Patricio Pitbull was “the greatest thing that has happened in my entire career”

Michael Chandler says his loss to Patricio Pitbull is the greatest thing that has happened in his MMA career.

Chandler was looking to defend his Bellator lightweight title in the main event of Bellator 221 in May 2019 against Pitbull. It was a highly-anticipated fight, but in 61 seconds, Patricio Pitbull won by TKO as he dropped Michael Chandler early and finished him with ground strikes.

At the time, the loss was disappointing for Chandler, but looking back, he says that setback is now the greatest thing that ever could’ve happened as it allowed him to sign with the UFC.

Chandler looks back on loss to Pitbull

“The thing is, I can tell you right now, I’m standing right here because of a loss. When I lost to Patricio Pitbull, if I had not lost that fight, I still would’ve been stuck in my contract,” Michael Chandler said in a clip shown on After Tuf to his team. “wouldn’t have been able to test free agency, wouldn’t have been able to come over right when Khabib was retiring, right whenever I was going to come in, get the title shot, and become who I am standing here. It’s literally, probably the greatest thing that has happened in my entire career.”

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Michael Chandler certainly has a point as had he won that fight, he still would’ve been the champion and his contract would’ve kept on getting extended. However, with the defeat, Chandler was able to fight out his deal in non-title fights and eventually make his way to the UFC in free agency.

In the UFC, Michael Chandler has gone 2-3 and has already fought for the UFC’s lightweight title. He started out with a first-round knockout of Dan Hooker and then lost to Charles Oliveira by second-round KO for the lightweight belt. Chandler then lost to Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier but knocked out Tony Ferguson between those setbacks. He is now expected to face Conor McGregor after the two coached TUF against one another.