Michael Chandler Jr. (born April 24, 1986) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Lightweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Chandler previously competed for Bellator MMA from 2010 through 2020 where he became a three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion and won the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. He challenged for the UFC Lightweight Championship.
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Background
Chandler was born and raised in High Ridge, Missouri, the second of four children to Michael Sr. and Betty Chandler. He is of German and Irish heritage. Chandler was on the honor roll every term in high school, received three letters in football, and finished as the runner–up at the MSHSAA State Championships as a senior in wrestling. He was voted the Most Valuable Wrestler during his senior season and was selected to the All-St. Louis Team.
Upon graduating from Northwest High School in 2004, Chandler enrolled at the University of Missouri without an athletic scholarship, walking onto the school's wrestling squad. While at Missouri, Chandler was a four-time NCAA Division I qualifier, collected 100 career wins, as well as earning fifth place at NCAA's as a senior, earning DI All-American honors. Chandler earned runner–up honors in the 2008 and 2009 Big 12 Championships and was awarded automatic bids to three of the four NCAA Championships he competed in. Chandler compiled a 31–15 record against Big 12 opponents and a 100–40 overall record in his four years as a starter. He majored in personal finance management services with a minor in real estate. He also built a close relationship with two–time Dan Hodge Trophy winner and eventual Bellator MMA World Champion Ben Askren and two–time All–American and eventual UFC Welterweight Champion Tyron Woodley.
Mixed martial arts career
Immediately after his wrestling career was over, Chandler began training mixed martial arts at Xtreme Couture. He opted out of competing as an amateur and in August 2009, Chandler made his professional MMA debut with a first-round TKO victory over Kyle Swadley.
Strikeforce
Chandler made his Strikeforce debut on November 20, 2009, at Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears where he fought Richard Bouphanouvong, He won the bout via technical knockout in the second round.
His next fight in the promotion took place on May 15, 2010, at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery where he fought Sal Wood. He won the bout via submission in under a minute.
Bellator MMA
Chandler made his Bellator debut on September 30, 2010, at Bellator 31, where he defeated Scott Stapp via technical knockout in the first round. The match was contested at a catchweight for Chandler to test himself for the lightweight division, all his previous bouts being in the welterweight division.
In his next Bellator appearance, Chandler competed on the Bellator 32 card on October 14, 2010, against Chris Page in a welterweight contest. He won the bout via submission in the first round.
In February 2011, it was announced that Chandler would be a part of the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. In the opening round of the tournament, Chandler faced Marcin Held, at Bellator 36 on March 12, 2011. He won the contest via technical submission after choking Held unconscious with an arm-triangle choke. The win moved Chandler into the semi-finals.
Chandler then faced Lloyd Woodard at Bellator 40 and won via unanimous decision to move onto the finals of the tournament.
The tournament final took place at Bellator 44 where Chandler faced Patricky Pitbull. He utilized his wrestling skills, repeatedly taking down Freire and controlling the fight. He defeated Freire via unanimous decision to win $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator Lightweight World Championship.
Chandler was expected to compete against Eddie Alvarez for the Bellator Lightweight World Championship at Bellator 54 on October 15, 2011. However, Alvarez suffered an undisclosed injury forcing the bout to be postponed. The bout was then rescheduled to take place on November 19, 2011, at Bellator 58. Chandler defeated Eddie Alvarez via submission in the fourth round.
In his first fight after winning the title, Chandler faced Akihiro Gono in a non-title superfight at Bellator 67 on May 4, 2012. He won the match via technical knockout at just 56 seconds into the first round.
Chandler made the first defense of his title against Bellator Season Six Lightweight Tournament Winner Rick Hawn, on January 17, 2013, at Bellator 85. He won the bout via submission in the second round.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On September 17, 2020, it was announced that Chandler had signed a contract with the UFC and served as a backup for a title bout between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
Chandler made his promotional debut against Dan Hooker at UFC 257 on January 24, 2021. He won the fight via technical knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.
Chandler faced long–time veteran Charles Oliveira for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship, following former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement, while headlining UFC 262 on May 15, 2021. Despite having success in the first round and nearly finishing Oliveira, Chandler lost the fight via technical knockout early in the second round.
Chandler faced former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 on November 6, 2021. After a back-and-forth fight, Chandler lost the bout via unanimous decision. This bout earned the Fight of the Night award. The bout was also regarded as the Fight of the Year by the UFC and various mixed martial arts media outlets.
Chandler faced former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Tony Ferguson on May 7, 2022, at UFC 274. He won the fight in the second round after knocking out Ferguson with a front kick. The win earned Chandler his second Performance of the Night bonus award. It also earned him the second place Crypto.com "Fan Bonus of the Night" award.
Chandler faced former UFC Interim Lightweight Champion Dustin Poirier on November 12, 2022, at UFC 281. He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.
Chandler and Conor McGregor served as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31, which began filming in February 2023 and aired from May to August 2023. The season concluded with Chandler being scheduled to face McGregor in a welterweight bout at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024. Following speculation about the bout's status after an abruptly canceled press conference, the UFC officially announced the fight's cancellation on June 13, 2024, citing an injury sustained by McGregor. In September 2024, reports indicated that Chandler was "done waiting" to face McGregor.
Personal life
Chandler started dating Brie Willett in 2013 after emailing for almost two years. Subsequently, they got married in 2014. The couple grew their family through adoption in 2017, welcoming their son Hap. In April 2022, their second adoptive son Ace was born.
Chandler owns Training Camp, a fitness and MMA gym in Nashville.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Performance of the Night (Two times) vs. Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson
Fight of the Night (Three times) vs. Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira 2
UFC Honors Awards
2021: President's Choice Fight of the Year Winner vs. Justin Gaethje & Fan's Choice Debut of the Year Winner vs. vs. Dan Hooker
2022: President's Choice Performance of the Year Nominee vs. Tony Ferguson, President's Choice Fight of the Year Nominee vs. Dustin Poirier & Fan's Choice Knockout of the Year Nominee vs. Tony Ferguson
UFC.com Awards
2021: Fight of the Year vs. Justin Gaethje, Half-Year Awards: Best Newcomer of the 1HY, Ranked #3 Newcomer of the Year & Ranked #10 Fight of the Year vs. Charles Oliveira 1
2022: Ranked #3 Fight of the Year vs. Dustin Poirier & Ranked #2 Knockout of the Year vs. Tony Ferguson
Crypto.com
Fan Bonus of the Night vs. Tony Ferguson
Bellator Fighting Championships
Bellator Lightweight World Championship (Three times)
Two successful title defenses (first reign)
One successful title defense (second reign)
Three successful title defenses (overall)
Amateur wrestling
National Collegiate Athletic Association
NCAA Division I All-American (2009)
Big 12 Conference Championship Runner-up (2008, 2009)
University of Missouri Wrestling Team Captain (2007–2009)
Ed Lampitt Coaches Award (2009)
Hap Whitney Coaches Award (2006)
Hap Whitney Most Improved Wrestler (2006)
Missouri State High School Activities Association
MSHSAA High School State Championship Runner-up (2004)
All-St. Louis Team (2004)