What draws UFC fans to the arenas? It’s the pure, electrifying entertainment that stays with you long after the fight is over. Michael Chandler, the UFC lightweight star, may have made his UFC debut later than most, but he arrived with decades of Bellator experience under his belt. He came in hungry for the title, but more importantly, he delivers a performance that not only fills his pockets but also ignites the crowd with excitement.
That’s exactly what the 3 times Bellator champ gave us last year at UFC 309, in the co-main event marking his return to the Octagon after nearly two years away. Thanks to Conor McGregor’s influence sidelining him, Michael Chandler’s comeback bout was against former champion Charles Oliveira at Madison Square Garden.
Before the fight, Michael Chandler boldly promised to “steal” the main card from Jon Jones—and he lived up to that promise. In a grueling, hard-fought battle, ‘Iron’ fell short by unanimous decision, but every round was a spectacle. The highlight came in the final round, when he lifted the Brazilian and slammed him WWE-style, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Joe Rogan, Jon Anik, and Daniel Cormier visibly showed their excitement. In a recent UFC 309 reaction video posted by Michael Chandler on Instagram, you can hear Joe Rogan say,
“Look at this! Look at this—he’s standing up against Savage Yellow. How strong is Michael Chandler? Unbelievable! Unbelievable, he’s so strong. What a fight!” Proudly, Michael Chandler captioned the clip: “Always fun seeing the reaction.”
But for all the excitement he brings to the cage, the road ahead for 39-year-old Michael Chandler is starting to look uncertain. After spending nearly two years on the sidelines waiting for a long-promised fight with Conor McGregor, ‘Iron’ returned to action at UFC 314 with just a 2-3 record in the promotion. Unfortunately, his comeback ended in another setback — a loss to rising lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett — bringing his record to 2-5 in his last seven outings.
The defeat has sparked fresh debate about Chandler’s future inside the Octagon. And UFC veteran Michael Bisping didn’t sugarcoat his thoughts, offering a blunt and honest assessment of The American’s career trajectory. Let’s hear what the former middleweight champion had to say.
Michael Bisping gives an honest take on Michael Chandler’s loss to Paddy Pimblett
“But when you’ve fought Poirier, you’ve fought Gaethje, you’ve fought Oliveira, you’ve fought Dan Hooker – fighting Paddy Pimblett sounds like a fun day at the office compared to some of those,” said Michael Chandler ahead of his UFC 314 clash with the rising British star. On paper, the matchup looked intriguing. ‘The Baddy’, the younger and hungry contender, was stepping in against a seasoned veteran known for his grit and wrestling. But once the cage door closed, things quickly spiraled into a nightmare for ‘Iron’.
From the opening bell, Paddy Pimblett took control. By the time the final horn sounded, Michael Chandler’s face was a bloodied mess—courtesy of a devastating knee that opened up a massive cut. At 39, the veteran’s resilience was on full display, but the beating he took had many in the MMA world wondering if this was the end of the road for him as a top-tier contender. Even UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping couldn’t stay silent after witnessing the brutal outcome. Speaking candidly on his YouTube channel, Bisping painted a grim picture of what lies ahead for ‘Iron’.
“I don’t say this lightly, but that was a career-killing performance for Michael Chandler… If he was 30 years old, he could have another go… But no, Father Time is undefeated. He’s 38 years old and there ain’t no way he’s getting back into title contention ever again.”
As Michael Chandler’s time in the Octagon appears to be winding down, how will you remember his legacy? Was he one of the most electrifying and entertaining fighters to ever step into the cage? Share your take on Chandler’s MMA journey in the comments below.
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