Michael Chandler is not only the Bellator lightweight champion, but he might just be the best 155-pound fighter currently not competing in the UFC.
Chandler has been a force of nature lately running through every opponent he faces in the Bellator cage, which has made many believe he could do much the same if he ever took on the best of the best in the Octagon.
Fresh off a win of his own at Bellator 97 where he bulldozed Dave Rickels via first-round knockout, Chandler sat down with Fight! Magazine to give his thoughts on the upcoming title fight at UFC 164 between Benson Henderson and Anthony Pettis.
“I’d go with Ben Henderson nine times out of 10,” Chandler said. “He’s bigger, he’s more complete. Pettis has a phenomenal striking game, absolutely phenomenal striking game, but if he doesn’t knock you out I don’t see how he’s going to beat Ben Henderson.”
With the odds that Chandler is giving, it would seem Henderson is the lock to win, considering in their first fight back in 2010 it was Pettis that came out on top.
Chandler does give a little more insight into the matchup, including Pettis’ work with his good friend and former wrestling teammate at the University of Missouri and now Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren.
Check out Chandler giving his breakdown of the fight as he analyzes the main event at UFC 164 and who will be left standing with the lightweight title when the dust settles.
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