| Michael Chandler | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Chandler Jr. April 24, 1986 High Ridge, Missouri |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 155 lb (70 kg; 11.1 st) |
| Division | Welterweight (2010-2011), Lightweight (2011-) |
| Reach | 69.0 in (175 cm) |
| Style | Wrestling |
| Fighting out of | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Team | Xtreme Couture |
| Rank | NCAA Division I Wrestling |
| Years active | 2009-present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 9 |
| Wins | 9 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 0 |
| Other information | |
| University | University of Missouri |
| Website | http://mikechandlermma.com/ |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Michael Chandler Jr. (born April 24, 1986 in High Ridge, Missouri) is an American professional mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter fighting in the lightweight division and previously in the welterweight division. He is currently under contract with Bellator Fighting Championships where he is the Bellator Lightweight Champion. He was also the winner of the Bellator Season Four: Lightweight Tournament. He is currently ranked as the #10 lightweight by Sherdog.com.[1]
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Chandler was born and raised in High Ridge, Missouri. He was born 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.[2][3]
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 All-American honors. Chandler earned runner-up honors in the 2008 and 2009 Big XII Championships and was awarded automatic bids to three of the four NCAA tournaments he competed in. Chandler compiled a 31-15 record against Big XII opponents and a 100-40 overall record in his four years as a starter.[2] He majored in personal finance management services with a minor in real estate.[3]
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 quick TKO victory over Kyle Swadley.[4]
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 2.
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 4 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, using effective take downs to control the fight. He defeated Frire via unanimous decision to win $100,000 and a shot at the Bellator Lightweight Championship versus Eddie Alvarez.
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.[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 tap.
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 9 matches | 9 wins | 0 losses |
| By knockout | 3 | 0 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 2 | 0 |
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 9-0 | Eddie Alvarez | Submission (rear naked choke) | Bellator 58 | November 19, 2011 | 4 | 3:06 | Hollywood, Florida, United States | Won Bellator Lightweight Championship |
| Win | 8-0 | Patricky Freire | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 44 | May 14, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | LW Tournament Final |
| Win | 7–0 | Lloyd Woodard | Decision (unanimous) | Bellator 40 | April 9, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Newkirk, Oklahoma, United States | LW Tournament Semifinal |
| Win | 6–0 | Marcin Held | Technical Submission (arm triangle choke) | Bellator 36 | March 12, 2011 | 1 | 3:56 | Shreveport, Louisiana, United States | LW Tournament Quarterfinal; Lightweight debut |
| Win | 5–0 | Chris Page | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bellator 32 | October 14, 2010 | 1 | 0:57 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Scott Stapp | TKO (punches) | Bellator 31 | September 30, 2010 | 1 | 1:57 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Catchweight bout |
| Win | 3–0 | Sal Woods | Submission (rear naked choke) | Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery | May 15, 2010 | 1 | 0:59 | St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Richard Bouphanouvong | TKO (punches) | Strikeforce Challengers 5 | November 21, 2009 | 2 | 2:07 | Kansas City, Kansas, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Kyle Swadley | TKO (punches) | First Blood | August 8, 2009 | 1 | 3:30 | Lake Ozark, Missouri, United States |