Michael Chandler

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.[5]

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.[6] 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.[7]

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 World Championship versus Eddie Alvarez.

Chandler was expected to compete for the Bellator Lightweight World Championship at Bellator 54. However, Alvarez suffered an undisclosed injury and forcing the bout to be postponed until a later date.[8] Chandler/Alvarez was rescheduled to take place on November 19, 2011 at Bellator 58.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11] Chandler defeated Rickels via KO 44 seconds into the first round.

A rematch with Eddie Alvarez took place on November 2, 2013 in the main event at Bellator 106.[12] 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.[13] 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.[14] 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.[15] 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.[16] He won the fight via TKO in the second round.

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.[17] Chandler regained the title after winning via knockout in the first round.

In his first title defense, Chandler faced former World Extreme Cagefighting and UFC champion Benson Henderson in the main event at Bellator 165 on November 19, 2016. He won the back-and-forth bout via split decision.

For his second title defense, Chandler faced Brent Primus at Bellator NYC on June 24, 2017. At 2:22 in the first round, the bout was temporarily halted by the referee to check on Chandler, whose left ankle was visibly injured. The bout was stopped in favor of Primus via TKO, awarding him the Bellator Lightweight Championship.[18]

Following the loss to Primus, Chandler remained out of action for the remainder of 2017. He made his return at Bellator 192 on January 20, 2018. on January 20, 2018 against Goiti Yamauchi. [19] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[20]

In a rematch, Chandler was expected to challenge Brent Primus for the Bellator Lightweight Championship at Bellator 197 on April 13, 2018. After Primus pulled out of the fight, citing a knee injury, Chandler was scheduled to fight Brandon Girtz on the same card. He won the fight via submission in the first round.

In late June 2018, reports surfaced that Chandler's contract with Bellator would expire imminently, making him a free agent.[21] After testing free agency, it was announced on August 22, 2018, that Chandler had signed a new, exclusive multi-fight contract with Bellator.[22]

Chandler's anticipated rematch with Brent Primus took place on December 14, 2018, at Bellator 212.[23] Chandler dominated the majority of the fight by out-wrestling Primus, ultimately defeating him by unanimous decision and regaining the Bellator Lightweight World title in the process.[24]

In the first defense of his new title, Chandler faced Patrício Freire in the main event at Bellator 221 on May 11, 2019. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round.[25]

On October 25, 2019, it was announced that Chandler return to cage to rematch Benson Henderson at Bellator & Rizin: Japan on December 29, 2019.[26] However, Henderson was forced to withdraw from the bout citing an injury and was replaced by Sidney Outlaw in a 160 pound Catchweight bout.[27] Chandler defeated Outlaw via knockout in the first round.[28]

The rematch with Benson Henderson is now rescheduled to take place at Bellator 244 on June 6, 2020, marking the last fight of his prevailing contract.[29]

• 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)
  • Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament Championship
  • Most submission victories in Bellator Lightweight division (6)[31]
  • Most stoppage wins in Bellator MMA history (12)
  • Most title reigns in Bellator MMA history (3)
  • Most title bouts in Bellator MMA history (10)
  • 2nd most wins in Bellator MMA history (17)
  • Tied with Ilima-Lei Macfarlane and Neiman Gracie for second most submission wins in Bellator MMA history (6)
• MMAJunkie
  • Knockout of the Month vs. Patricky Freire on June 24[32]
• Sherdog
  • 2011 Breakthrough Fighter of the Year
• Yahoo! Sports
  • 2011 Fight of the Year vs. Eddie Alvarez on November 19

• 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)