Michael Chandler News

Tom Taylor - October 23, 2020

UFC President Dana White is floating the idea of a lightweight No. 1 contender fight between Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler. Ferguson stood out as the top contender in the lightweight division for many years, but after having a 12-fight win-streak derailed by Justin Gaethje in May, is now looking to reestablish himself. Chandler, on the other hand, is a former Bellator champion, and recently signed with the UFC to much acclaim.

Adam Martin - October 22, 2020

UFC lightweight Michael Chandler explained how he is preparing for his role as the backup fighter for this main event of Saturday’s UFC 254. Chandler recently signed with the UFC as a free agent following a spectacular run in Bellator where he was a three-time lightweight champion in the promotion. UFC president Dana White admitted that a five-minute phone call with Chandler when he became a free agent was enough to convince him he belonged in the UFC. Not only that but also maybe even get a title shot if anything happens to the headliners of this weekend’s UFC 254.

Tom Taylor - October 20, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has explained why he wasn’t interested in fighting Islam Makhachev on short-notice. Chandler, who has yet to make his UFC debut, is on standby on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi in the event that Khabib Nurmagomedov or Justin Gaethje is unable to compete in the UFC 254 headliner this weekend. Makhachev, meanwhile, was scheduled to fight Rafael dos Anjos on the card, but was forced off the bill when the UFC couldn’t find him a replacement opponent after a dos Anjos injury.

Andrew Whitelaw - October 20, 2020

Michael Chandler is still eyeing a dance with Tony Ferguson for his first fight in the UFC. The pair were briefly intended to be the co-main event at UFC 254, but an agreement could not be reached. Speaking at the UFC 254 virtual media day, Chandler admitted that provided he doesn’t fight this weekend, “El Cucuy” is his preferred next opponent.

Cole Shelton - October 7, 2020

Michael Chandler is not happy with Tony Ferguson. Earlier on Wednesday, Ferguson was not happy with Chandler and what he was making in the UFC. He also didn’t like that the former Bellator lightweight champion is the backup fighter for UFC 254.

Tom Taylor - October 7, 2020

Bellator President Scott Coker has shared his first reaction to Michael Chandler, the promotion’s former lightweight champion, signing with the UFC. Chandler is arguably the biggest star in Bellator history. Last month, however, the former champ parted ways with the promotion, and signed on the dotted line with the UFC.

Tom Taylor - October 1, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is “extremely confident” he could beat UFC champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, as it’s a fight he’s been preparing for for years. Chandler just made the jump from Bellator to the UFC, and has yet to make his debut in the Octagon. However, he’s had his eye on Nurmagomedov, who he forecasted as a future champion, for a long time.

Harry Kettle - September 24, 2020

UFC lightweight Dan Hooker has made it crystal clear that he is interested in a fight against promotional newcomer Michael Chandler. Hooker, who is coming off the back of a narrow loss to Dustin Poirier, has never been shy when it comes to calling out those in his division that he wants to fight. The aforementioned Chandler has finally made the jump over to the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is expected to serve as the back-up fighter for UFC 254’s main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje.

Tom Taylor - September 22, 2020

Charles Oliveira is not happy that Michael Chandler has been tapped as the back-up fighter for the UFC 254 main event on October 24. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion, recently signed with the UFC. While he does not yet have an opponent for his Octagon debut, he has agreed to step in if either UFC lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov or interim champ Justin Gaethje fails to make it to their planned title fight at UFC 254.

Tom Taylor - September 21, 2020

Michael Chandler has signed with the UFC and has already been tapped as the back-up fighter for the UFC 254 main event. UFC 254 goes down on October 24 on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between undefeated champ Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje. Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion, will be on-call in Abu Dhabi, and ready to step in should either man fail to make it to the cage on fight night.

Adam D Martin - September 18, 2020

UFC president Dana White says he is “very excited” about adding former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler to the UFC roster. On Thursday, White announced that the UFC has signed Chandler to a free-agent contract. His first task with the UFC will be to be the backup fighter for the UFC 254 main event between lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Justin Gaethje. It was a massive free-agent signing for the UFC as Chandler is widely considered by fans and media to be a top-10 lightweight in all of MMA.

Adam D Martin - September 18, 2020

New UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has released his first statement since leaving Bellator and signing with the UFC. Chandler is a former three-time Bellator lightweight champion and for years he has been one of the top 155lbers outside of the UFC. On Thursday, UFC president Dana White confirmed the world’s leading MMA promotion has signed Chandler and he has been officially named as the backup for the upcoming UFC 254 lightweight title fight between champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champ Justin Gaethje.

Adam Martin - September 17, 2020

UFC lightweight contender Kevin Lee shared an interesting theory on why the UFC signed prized free agent fighter Michael Chandler to a deal. UFC president Dana White announced on Thursday that his organization signed the former Bellator lightweight champion Chandler to a free agent contract and he will be the official backup for the UFC 254 lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Michael Chandler. It was massive news that got the entire MMA world talking, particularly about the part seeing Chandler potentially getting a title shot.

Tom Taylor - September 17, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler has officially signed with the UFC, and has already been tapped as an understudy for the UFC 254 main event. UFC 254 will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between undefeated champion Khabib Nurmagomedov and interim champion Justin Gaethje. Should either man fail to make it into the cage, Chandler will be called upon to replace them.

Tom Taylor - September 16, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler is reportedly being considered as a potential opponent for former UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. After knocking out Benson Henderson at Bellator 243, Chandler entered in a period of free agency. Buzz about his potential move to the UFC was immediate.

Harry Kettle - September 14, 2020

UFC president Dana White has confirmed that he has held talks with popular free agent Michael Chandler. Fans and media members alike have been speculating over the future of Chandler after it was confirmed he’d be moving into free agency following his last Bellator fight.

Adam Martin - September 2, 2020

Former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler says he is interested in moving up to welterweight to fight Leon Edwards in the UFC. Chandler, a three-time lightweight champion in Bellator, recently became a free agent and is currently fielding offers from other promotions. Although a return to Bellator is always possible, he has been connected to the UFC, ONE Championship and the PFL in free agency, and he is expected to make his decision on his new home in the upcoming weeks.

Tom Taylor - August 27, 2020

After knocking out Benson Henderson at Bellator 243 earlier this month, Michael Chandler, the promotion’s former lightweight champ, is now a free agent. As one of the biggest stars Bellator has produced to date, Chandler can almost certainly expect lucrative offers from some of the sport’s biggest organizations. He’s already expressed interest in a potential move to the UFC, and UFC President Dana White has reciprocated that interest. Chandler has also discussed a potential move to ONE Championship, where a compelling trilogy fight with his chief rival Eddie Alvarez could await.