Paddy Pimblett (dir.) defeated Michael chandler (left) in UFC 314. Photo: Reproduction/X
Things are complicated for Michael chandler. The lightweight fighter (up to 70,3 kg) entered the octagon under pressure UFC 314 last Saturday (12), in front of the rising star Paddy Pimblett, who doesn't know what it's like to lose in the organization. And he still doesn't. The British defeated the American by knockout in the third round of the event's co-main event, handing Chandler his third consecutive loss.
Chandler arrived at the UFC with a golden weight in 2021, coming as the three-time Bellator lightweight champion. His overwhelming debut when he won Dan Hooker with a knockout in the first round confirmed a promising future in the new company. But then came the irregularity, with defeats to Charles of the Bronx e Justin gaethje. 'Iron' bounced back by winning Tony Ferguson, but went back downhill after losing to Dustin poirier, From the Bronx again and now against Pimblett. A 2-5 (two wins and five losses) hard to swallow.
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Given this 'case', a UFC legend believes that perhaps it is time for Chandler to stop. The former double champion of the organization Henry Cejudo gave his opinion on the podcast 'Pound4Pound', which he participates alongside the also former champion Kamaru Usman.
“If I were the Michael chandler, yeah, I would retire, bro. That’s a lot of beating, man. He gets elbowed in the face, he’s always cut and bleeding. I think Chandler should have just one more fight, man. I really do. I think we should retire together, maybe on the same card. He’ll be loved by people, but he lost all his fights, and people just forget,” said the fighter with Mexican roots.
Henry Cejudo is part of the select group of double UFC champions. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
Another UFC legend also weighed in on Chandler's setback in the UFC 314. Michael Bisping dubbed the American's defeat to Pimblett a 'career killer'.
The organization's president, Dana White, also reacted Chandler's third consecutive defeat. In a more relaxed tone, he highlighted the importance of a guy like 'Iron' in the lightweight division.
“I mean, he’s always in the fight. Tonight was a big night for Paddy Pimblett. As we just said, people have doubted Paddy Pimblett “I’m not sure if he’s going to win every fight he does, and he’s undefeated in the UFC. But Chandler is like our Arturo Gatti, man. Every time this guy goes out there, you know it’s going to be a good fight, you know it’s going to be a war, and you don’t know if he’s going to win or lose,” Dana said.
What should also be taken into account is the level of opponents that the former three-time Bellator champion has faced since arriving in the UFC. With quality fighters, even with the arrival of the former featherweight champion (up to 65,7 kg.) Ilia Topuria, fighting in the organization's lightweight division has been compared to swimming in a tank full of sharks.
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