Between missing out on his 'Notorious' payday and losing his rematch with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, lightweight veteran Michael Chandler just can't catch a break.
And things haven't gotten much better for 'Iron' since losing the decision to 'do Bronx', with multiple former MMA champions and even a veteran referee roasting him for what many consider to be repeated 'cheating'.
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Brent Primus criticizes 'cheating' Michael Chandler in brutal roast of a former enemy
Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Brent Primus has been feuding with Michael Chandler for years; the pair were all 1-1 before 'Iron' made a big-money move to the UFC in 2021.
If you thought those few years of promotional separation would dampen Primus' hatred of Chandler, you were wrong: Speaking to MMA Fighting earlier this week, the American would launch yet another scathing verbal attack, calling Chandler a “fake little punk ' to name. ”
“He looked like a cr** in his last fight, I couldn't believe that. I think Chandler looked like a cr**. His footwork caused him to fall everywhere. He threw his right hand like he was throwing a baseball. I was not impressed with his performance [and] his call was kind of cringey.
“I don't like that guy. I think Chandler is a cheater. I feel like he's a dirty fighter. I just don't like that guy at all. It sure was fun to see Oliveira tear him apart like that. I liked it.”
Primus echoed many of the same sentiments of veteran referee John McCarthy; Simply put, the time away from the octagon waiting for Conor McGregor has decimated Chandler's once excellent skillset.
'That's what happens when you take two years off to wait for someone. You could totally see the ring rust in him, and I just think he looked like crap… It was quite an embarrassing performance from Chandler. You sit outside for two years and wait for someone, that's what happens.”
One of the most controversial moments of the UFC 309 clash with Oliveira came in the fifth round, when Chandler repeatedly threw hammer fists to the back of the Brazilian's head.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the first time Chandler was accused of purposefully cheating in the octagon; with famed fishing addict Dustin 'The Diamond' Poirier at UFC 281.
“That guy is such a cheating little idiot,” Primus continued, adding, “I heard Dustin Poirier say he doesn't want to fight him because he's just a dirty cheater – he sticks his fingers in his eyes and blows blood into his eyes.
'I just think he's a dirty cheater. He's just a dirty cheater and if he's not going to win or get his way, he's going to make excuses and try to cheat. I was quite happy to see Oliveira take him apart like that. Oliveira is the man.'
Brent Primus returns to action next Friday, fighting for the PFL lightweight title
Brent Primus returns to action next week at the PFL 2024 Championships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the lightweight tournament final against Gadzhi Rabadanov – scheduled for Friday, November 29.
Despite being undefeated in his last five fights, including a solid UD win over Clay Collard in August, Primus is the heavy underdog to the 23-4-2 Russian, with only 16% of Tapology User Picks siding with the American chooses.
Primus vs Rabadanov is one of ten excellent title fights set to take place in Riyadh, with the likes of Brendan Loughnane, Dakota Ditcheva, Taila Santos, Impa Kasanganay and Magomed Umalatov also set to battle for PFL gold.
At age 39, can the Oregon native turn back the clock and claim championship glory again? Find out live on ESPN+ on Friday, November 29.
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