Michael Chandler pulled the almost impossible in his last fight before he signed at the UFC.
Years before he was a UFC light weight competition, the American fought under the Bellator MMA banner where he ruled as a triple lightweight champion. Chandler's third title Reign was shortened by the legendary Patricio Pitbull in 2019, who will now become a member of his rival on the UFC 314 main card this month.
Michael Chandler bounced back from a TKO loss from the first round to Pitbull with a few break victories over Sidney Outlaw and former UFC Lichtwicht Champion Benson Henderson.
Henderson had given Chandler one of his toughest fights in 2016 and made the champion for a split decision after five rounds of action.
The Rematch in August 2020 could not have changed.
Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty images
Michael Chandler destroyed Benson Henderson in two minutes
In the opening round at Bellator 243, the expert striker Henderson Chandler tagged with bumps and stairs to the body. Chandler remained composed and closed the distance in two minutes.
Chandler fired a body stick and shot a fast left hand that Henderson sat.
Chandler joined the top of the head with a follow -up punch that Henderson places with his face to the canvas, drops of blood that flows from him.
The former Bellator champion landed two more land and pounds shot before the referee stopped the match.
Chandler had become the second man in the history of Ko Benson Henderson, Rafael Dos Anjos the only other hunter who did this six years earlier.
Michael Chandler insured UFC Future with KO of former champion
When the fight was over, Michael Chandler was more than a #1 candidate in Bellator – he was a free agent.
Chandler had fought in Bellator MMA for ten years and at the age of 34, 'Iron', signed at the UFC where he would eventually compete against the best of the best.
A certified CV and Ko from Henderson prior to him, Chandler received a back-up duty for the undisputed lightweight title fight between the unbeaten Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje on UFC 254, ready to step up in the case with a strict withdrawing.
The services of Chandler were not necessary, but the former Bellator-star continued to test against Elite competition or in its own words, “the waters affected with sharks of the UFC Lightweight Division.”
From KO victories on Tony Ferguson and Dan hooker, to wars with Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira, the next opponent of Chandler will be the #12 ranking order Paddy Pimblett in the Co-Headliner of UFC 314.
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