UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Few if any, fighters have the Bellator accolades of Michael Chandler– but his promotional journey may be coming to an end.
After his Bellator 243 knockout of Benson Henderson, Chandler (21-5 MMA, 18-5 BMMA) was emotional in the cage. Entering free agency for the first time, Chandler reflected on his tenure with the promotion.
Chandler, 36, carried the emotion into his post-fight news conference. A three-time former Bellator lightweight champion who has been with the company since 2010, Chandler reflected on his time with the promotion and voiced his love for his family.
“My heart is so full,” Chandler said. “I am so over-the-moon in love with my wife and my son. I haven’t seen them in 12 weeks – barely. Obviously, the business side of things, we’re going to make the best decision possible. I think there’s no doubt that Bellator is the organization that they are because of the blood and sweat and tears performances (and) ‘Fights of the Year’ I’ve put on here. It’s also for certain that I wouldn’t be where I am and who I am without the amazing people of this organization and how well they’ve taken care of me – the promotion, the bright lights.
“Man, my ribs hurt, my feet hurts, my leg hurts, (but) I’m excited to get home and see my family. I’m going to go on a little trip. Bellator, my phone is on. We have an exclusive negotiating period like every contract.”
Finishing Henderson, a former UFC champion, is only an accolade three other fights can claim. Only Rafael dos Anjos had finished Henderson with strikes before Chandler’s performance Friday night. Chandler recognizes the feat he accomplished, which ultimately served as an indicator that he’s on top of his game.
“The guy doesn’t get finished and I finished him with a switch-step, switched to southpaw, and knocked him out with my left hand,” Chandler said. “I just turned 34 years old. I feel like the best striker I’ve ever been. I was just getting settled into that fight.”
When asked if he not only proved something to promotions and fans, but to himself, Chandler dived deep into a career reflection. He admitted to feeling a tremendous amount of pressure to perform heading into the last fight of his contract, even if he didn’t admit it out loud beforehand. Chandler said he’s always bet on himself – and it’s almost always paid off.
“I wouldn’t be the man that I am today without taking a chance on myself,” the former University of Missouri wrestler said. “When every single person back in Jefferson County, Mo. said, ‘Why the heck are you going to walk on to that Division 1 wrestling team? You’re going to be a punching bag for five years. You’re going to be a workout dummy. You’re never going to make it. You’re going to ride the bench. You’re never going to wear that black and gold singlet.”
“Within one year, I was wearing a black and gold singlet. Within three years after that, I was an All-American – team captain for two or three years. Every young kid out there right there, take a chance on yourself. Believe in yourself. Believe that you were designed and created and engineered for more career success than you ever, ever could think of in your wildest dreams. That’s what we did here tonight. That doesn’t mean anything as a knock on Bellator. I love this organization. I love what they’ve done for me. I love every single heartbeat.”
Bellator 243 took place Friday at Mohegan Sun. The main card simulcasted on Paramount Network and DAZN after prelims on MMA Junkie.
For free agent Michael Chandler, Bellator 243 served as proof he's as good as ever
