UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler and his wife Brie have welcomed a new member to their family. Michael and Brie added another son to their family, Ace Chandler, who was born last week and adopted by the couple. The pair has another son named Hap who will now take the role of big brother. Chandler…
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler and his wife Brie have welcomed a new member to their family.
Michael and Brie added another son to their family, Ace Chandler, who was born last week and adopted by the couple. The pair has another son named Hap who will now take the role of big brother.
“So blessed to add another son to the Chandler family. Ace Chandler was born April 19th,” Chandler shared. “The blessings of adoption have enriched our lives more than we ever thought possible.
“[Brie Chandler] has had adoption on her heart for over 2 decades and after our son Hap, we knew we’d do it again.
“So many people have said we have given such a gift to these young men, but to us, it’s always felt like the exact opposite…we feel like we have won the lottery every single day.”
Chandler’s latest addition to his family comes at an exciting time in the former UFC lightweight title challenger’s professional career. He’s slated to face former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, at UFC 274.
Chandler made his UFC debut back at UFC 257 in a knockout win over Dan Hooker. He signed with the promotion following a decorated run in Bellator, which featured multiple reigns as the Bellator lightweight titleholder.
Chandler is looking to get back in the win column after back-to-back losses to UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and former interim champion Justin Gaethje. Despite his recent losses in the Octagon, he appears in good spirits ahead of his anticipated return.
What is your prediction for Michael Chandler’s upcoming fight vs. Tony Ferguson?
Conor McGregor has arguably crossed the line with his trash talk, but Michael Chandler doesn’t expect he would be a harsh target. Chandler is set to face former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 on May 7. Both fighters are looking to get back in the win column after recent losses. Chandler has…
Conor McGregor has arguably crossed the line with his trash talk, but Michael Chandler doesn’t expect he would be a harsh target.
Chandler is set to face former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 on May 7. Both fighters are looking to get back in the win column after recent losses.
McGregor hasn’t fought since his nasty leg break at UFC 264. He has begun sparring, though, as shared on his social media ahead of his to-be-determined timetable for a return.
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chandler explained why he feels any trash talk between himself and McGregor would be light-hearted and not over the line.
“Obviously, that’s one of the things you think about with Conor,” Chandler said. “I think that’s why guys have lost to Conor, not just because of Conor’s skill, but because of the magnitude of the moment, the build-up, the fight week, the trash talk, all of the energy you spend outside of just fighting Conor. My gut says I don’t think Conor’s going to stoop that low with me.
“I think what happens is it just progressively gets lower and lower and lower as you stack on insults and personal insults and personal digs. I’m obviously never going to personal with a fighter,” Chandler continued. “I wouldn’t see Conor would go too far with that. I think Conor would trash talk and build a fight, hype the fight, try to get in my head of course, but I’m very confident in my ability to withstand that. Not just withstand that but fire back in an intelligent manner.”
As Chandler alluded to, McGregor has faced criticism from some regarding his trash talk in leadups to recent fights with Dustin Poirier and Khabib Nurmagomedov. He invoked Poirier’s wife in his attempts at mental warfare ahead of UFC 264, while also making deeply personal attacks against Khabib before their title fight at UFC 229.
Chandler clearly wants a bout with McGregor, which would be another fan-friendly matchup after his wild war against Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. If he can defeat Ferguson at UFC 274, a fight with McGregor could be on the table.
Who do you want Conor McGregor to fight in his UFC return? Do you think Michael Chandler should be considered?
UFC 273 is only a few days behind us, but fans are already looking ahead to UFC 274, the promotion’s next pay-per-view event, scheduled for May 7 in Phoenix, Arizona…
UFC 273 is only a few days behind us, but fans are already looking ahead to UFC 274, the promotion’s next pay-per-view event, scheduled for May 7 in Phoenix, Arizona…
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has revealed he’s picking champion Charles Oliveira to emerge victorious over Justin Gaethje at UFC 274. Despite riding an eight-fight win streak this time last year, which included triumphs over Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson, not many would have expected Oliveira to accomplish the feats he did in 2021. After…
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has revealed he’s picking champion Charles Oliveira to emerge victorious over Justin Gaethje at UFC 274.
Despite riding an eight-fight win streak this time last year, which included triumphs over Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson, not many would have expected Oliveira to accomplish the feats he did in 2021.
After Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, “Do Bronx” found himself opposite relative newcomer Chandler in a battle for 155-pound gold at UFC 262. After five minutes of main event action, Oliveira had been knocked down, beaten, and almost finished. Less than 20 seconds into round two, though, and the Brazilian turned the tide and TKO’d the former Bellator champion.
Gaethje secured his position as number one contender over the likes of Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev by getting the better of Chandler in a Fight of the Year-worthy contest last November at UFC 268. Having failed to reach the undisputed throne in a unification showdown against Khabib in 2019, “The Highlight” will hope it’s second-time lucky later this year.
But in his way will be a veteran of the sport who has proven everyone wrong in his recent outings. During an episode of DC & RC, Chandler praised Oliveira’s resurgence from a 10-8-1 record in his first 19 Octagon appearances to 10-0 since his loss to Paul Felder in 2017.
“I think a lot of people would agree with me when I say that I would not have given Charles Oliveira a chance at beating Justin Gaethje up until about the last 12 months,” said Chandler. “Charles Oliveira has come back, essentially from the dead; resurrected his career from the dead.
“He was spotty up and down, could never be relied upon when it came to performances, and just, the way that he has turned into a deadly striker, as well as one of the greatest submission artists that the sport has ever seen, as well as going out there and finishing myself, going out there and finishing Dustin Poirier; that kind of stuff comes with a little bit of added extra confidence with each time he steps inside of the Octagon,” added Chandler.
Having faced both men in 2021, the #5-ranked Chandler is in a unique position to provide a prediction for the next lightweight title clash. While he knows full well how dangerous Gaethje can be, “Iron” believes Oliveira has “too many tools.”
“I think he’s gonna be the most confident Charles Oliveira that we have ever seen, after the year of 2021 that we just saw and him gaining that title and then defending that title, when he steps inside the Octagon against Justin Gaethje. But Justin Gaethje, we all know he’s a killer.
“I think it’s an extremely exciting fight. I still think I give the edge to Charles Oliveira, to be honest. He just has too many tools. And we all know how Justin Gaethje can win. But Charles Oliveira has also proven a lot of us and a lot of the doubters wrong, that he can be in there in those wars. He’s a lot tougher and a lot more resilient than we thought he was,” concluded Chandler.
While Oliveira’s reign advances towards a date with the #1-ranked lightweight on May 7, Chandler will be hoping to secure a potential rematch against either man in his own next appearance against Tony Ferguson on the same date.
Should the 35-year-old’s prediction come true at UFC 274, perhaps he’ll have the chance to exact revenge on Oliveira for their UFC 262 clash before the year is out.
Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 274, Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje?
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler knows what he’s getting into with Tony Ferguson ahead of their targeted fight at UFC 274. Chandler and Ferguson are looking to get back in the UFC lightweight title picture after a series of losses from both fighters. Chandler most recently fought against Justin Gaethje in an all-time classic at…
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler knows what he’s getting into with Tony Ferguson ahead of their targeted fight at UFC 274.
Chandler and Ferguson are looking to get back in the UFC lightweight title picture after a series of losses from both fighters. Chandler most recently fought against Justin Gaethje in an all-time classic at UFC 268, losing via a unanimous decision.
Ferguson has lost three in a row, including most recently to Beneil Dariush. Although he still has his trademark toughness and ability to take damage, he’s been beaten up badly in losses to Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.
“The thing about Tony is he’s unbreakable,” Chandler said. “He’s a little bit crazy, got a screw loose. He’s not gonna be a guy that I’m going to be able to break, he’s not going to be a guy that I’m going to be able to wear out and tire out. But, I’m going to get in his face and put hands on him very quickly.”
One example of Ferguson’s toughness was his fight with Gaethje. Despite being blitzed on the feet by Gaethje early and often, he was still able to throw damaging shots and withstand the barrage into Round 5.
Ferguson has also only been finished twice in the entirety of his MMA career. Once against Jamie Tony back in 2009 for NFAMMA, and then the recent fifth-round TKO to Gaethje. Even in lopsided defeats to Oliveira and Dariush, Ferguson has managed to be a tough out for most of the top UFC lightweights.
Chandler and Ferguson had been interested in fighting one another back in 2020, but negotiations never materialized. Chandler would go on to earn a vicious knockout over Dan Hooker at UFC 257 before losing to Oliveira for the vacant title at UFC 262.
Chandler and Ferguson will be on the same card as Oliveira and Gaethje at UFC 274. The winner of Chandler vs. Ferguson will look to move forward in the lightweight division and potentially enter the title shot conversation in 2022.
What is your prediction for Michael Chandler vs. Tony Ferguson?