Michael Chandler Biography

Michael Chandler Jr. (born April 24, 1986) is an American mixed martial artist fighting in the lightweight division. He is currently under contract with Bellator MMA where he is the current, two-time Bellator Lightweight Champion. He was also the winner of the Bellator Season Four: Lightweight Tournament. He was the 2011 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year.

Background

Chandler was born and raised in High Ridge, Missouri. He was born the second of four children to Michael Sr. and Betty Chandler. In high school, Chandler was on the honor roll every term, received three letters in football, and finished second at the Missouri State High School Championships his senior year for 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, walking onto the school's wrestling squad. While at Missouri Chandler was a four-time NCAA qualifier, collected 100 career wins, as well as earning fifth place at NCAA's earning Division 1 NCAA 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 tournaments 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.

Mixed martial arts career

Immediately after his wrestling career was over, Chandler began training mixed martial arts with 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 fight via TKO in round two.

His next fight in Strikeforce was on May 15, 2010 at Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery where he fought Sal Woods, He won the fight via submission in under a minute.

Bellator Fighting Championships

Chandler made his Bellator debut on September 30, 2010, at Bellator 31, where he defeated Scott Stapp via TKO in the first round. The fight 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 fought on the Bellator 32 card against Chris Page in a welterweight contest. Chandler won the fight in the opening minute via submission (guillotine choke).

In February 2011, Bellator announced that Chandler would be a part of the Bellator Season Four Lightweight Tournament. In the opening round of the tournament, Chandler fought Polish prospect, Marcin Held, at Bellator 36. Chandler won via technical submission after choking Held unconscious with an arm-triangle choke. The win moved Chandler into the semi-finals.

Chandler then fought 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 would face Team Nogueira product, Patricky Freire. Chandler utilized his wrestling skills, repeatedly taking down Freire and controlling the fight. He defeated Freire via unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-27) to win $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator Lightweight Championship versus Eddie Alvarez.

Lightweight Champion

Chandler was expected to compete for the Bellator Lightweight Championship at Bellator 54. However, Alvarez suffered an undisclosed injury and forcing the bout to be postponed until a later date. Chandler/Alvarez was rescheduled to take place on November 19, 2011 at Bellator 58. Chandler defeated Eddie Alvarez winning by rear naked choke in the fourth round. Chandler came in very aggressive in the first and second round. In the third round, Alvarez landed several shots stunning Chandler. In the fourth round, Chandler dropped Alvarez with a punch, took his back and forced the tapout.

In his first fight after winning the title, Chandler faced Japanese veteran Akihiro Gono in a non-title superfight at Bellator 67. He won the fight via TKO at just 56 seconds into the first round.

Chandler made the first defense of his title against Bellator Season Six Lightweight Tournament Winner and former olympic judoka Rick Hawn, at Bellator 85 on January 17, 2013. He won the fight via submission in the second round.

Chandler was set to make the second defense of his title against Bellator Season Seven Lightweight Tournament Winner Dave Jansen. The fight was to headline Bellator 96 on June 19, 2013. However, on June 2, it was announced that Jansen had to pull out of the bout due to an injury. Chandler faced David Rickels at Bellator 97. Chandler defeated Rickels via KO 44 seconds into the first round.

Title loss and return

A rematch with Eddie Alvarez took place on November 2, 2013 in the main event at Bellator 106. Chandler lost the fight via split decision.

A third fight with Alvarez was set up for the main event of Bellator 120 on May 17, 2014. However, a week before the fight, it was announced that Alvarez had suffered a concussion and was forced to pull out of the fight. Chandler instead faced Will Brooks for the Interim Lightweight title. He lost the back-and-forth fight via split decision.

With Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez leaving the promotion, Chandler faced Will Brooks in a rematch on November 15, 2014 at Bellator 131 for the vacant Lightweight title. He lost the fight via TKO in the fourth round.

Chandler faced Derek Campos at Bellator 138 on June 19, 2015 in St. Louis, Missouri. After a dominant start on the feet, including a knockdown, he won the fight via submission in the first round.

Chandler had a rematch with Dave Rickels on November 6, 2015 at Bellator 145. He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Lightweight Champion again

In May 2016, Bellator President Scott Coker announced that Chandler would have a rematch against Patricky Freire at Bellator 157 on June 17, 2016. The bout was for the vacant Bellator Lightweight Championship, which was vacated when champion Will Brooks was released from the promotion. Chandler regained the title after winning via knockout in the first round.

Championships and awards

Mixed martial arts

• Bellator Fighting Championships
  • Bellator Lightweight Championship (Two times, current)
  • Two successful title defenses
  • Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament Championship
  • Tied with Ben Askren for most consecutive Bellator wins (9)
• MMAJunkie
  • Knockout of the Month vs. Patricky Freire on June 24th
• Sherdog
  • 2011 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
• Yahoo! Sports
  • 2011 Fight of the Year vs. Eddie Alvarez on November 19

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)

Mixed martial arts record

|- | Win | align=center| 15-3 | Patricky Freire | KO (punch) | Bellator 157: Dynamite 2 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:14 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 14-3 | David Rickels | TKO (punches) | Bellator 145 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 3:05 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 13-3 | Derek Campos | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 138 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 2:17 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 12-3 | Will Brooks | TKO (punches) | Bellator 131 | | align=center| 4 | align=center| 3:48 | San Diego, California, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 12-2 | Will Brooks | Decision (split) | Bellator 120 | | align=center| 5 | align=center| 5:00 | Southaven, Mississippi, United States | |- | Loss | align=center| 12-1 | Eddie Alvarez | Decision (split) | Bellator 106 | | align=center| 5 | align=center| 5:00 | Long Beach, California, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 12-0 | David Rickels | KO (punches) | Bellator 97 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:44 | Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 11-0 | Rick Hawn | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 85 | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 3:07 | Irvine, California, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 10-0 | Akihiro Gono | TKO (punches) | Bellator 67 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:56 | Rama, Ontario, Canada | |- | Win | align=center| 9-0 | Eddie Alvarez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Bellator 58 | | align=center| 4 | align=center| 3:06 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 8-0 | Patricky Freire | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 44 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 7-0 | Lloyd Woodard | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 40 | | align=center| 3 | align=center| 5:00 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 6-0 | Marcin Held | Technical Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Bellator 36 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:56 | Shreveport, Louisiana, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 5-0 | Chris Page | Submission (standing guillotine choke) | Bellator 32 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:57 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 4-0 | Scott Stapp | TKO (punches) | Bellator 31 | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 1:57 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 3-0 | Sal Woods | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 0:59 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 2-0 | Richard Bouphanouvong | TKO (punches) | Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears | | align=center| 2 | align=center| 2:07 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |- | Win | align=center| 1-0 | Kyle Swadley | TKO (punches) | FB - First Blood | | align=center| 1 | align=center| 3:30 | Lake Ozark, Missouri, United States |