Michael Chandler admits that the narrative surrounding him that he’s a cheater within the UFC is a bit robust to swallow, however he is aware of who he’s when he appears to be like within the mirror.
Chandler is ready to compete this Saturday within the five-round co-main occasion of UFC 314 when he faces Paddy Pimblett in Miami. The previous Bellator champion has heard the dishonest accusations following his Madison Sq. Backyard losses to Dustin Poirier and, most lately, Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.
Forward of the large light-weight bout, Chandler was requested in regards to the accusations.
“I imply, the narrative is hard, man,” Chandler informed MMA Preventing. “Folks don’t actually know me. Until you’re in my inside circle, you don’t know who I actually am outdoors of [being] in entrance of the digicam. Folks have their sneaky suspicions that I play good in entrance of the digicam, and I’m a foul man behind the digicam. You’re all the time going to have these accusations, proper?
“However I do know who I’m, and I do know who I’m at my core; I’m a man who tries to do issues proper, tries to deal with folks proper, do issues with honor and respect. So the dishonest narrative is a bit of robust for me, but in addition, it’s all a part of the courtroom of public opinion, man.”
Chandler is 2-4 in his six octagon appearances, however has picked up a bonus in 5 of them. “Iron” seeks his first win in practically three years when he makes his first 2025 stroll to the cage.
In his most up-to-date outing, Chandler misplaced a five-round resolution to Oliveira in a rematch this previous November, and practically pulled off a stunning comeback win in Spherical 5. Oliveira was in a position to outlast a barrage from Chandler — together with numerous photographs many believed have been to the again of Oliveira’s head, though referee Keith Peterson didn’t difficulty any warnings.
Nonetheless, the dishonest narrative returned.
“Did I seize Dustin Poirier’s mouthpiece? Sure, I did, as a result of I assumed it was his chin,” Chandler mentioned. “I’ve already addressed that one. Issues occur in a struggle. Are you going to achieve over and seize the cage? Are you going to get your fingers within the glove? Yeah. These issues are going to occur in a struggle.
“Within the final struggle, Charles Oliveira dug his chin so deep into my eye socket that I assumed I used to be going to go blind, which is against the law. It’s a watch gouge, proper? He was grabbing my gloves when he was attempting to choke me. These items occur while you’re inside the cage. I’d by no means say that Charles Oliveira is a cheater. His physique is reacting and doing issues with out his mind’s permission. You’re in struggle or flight. Issues occur. So it’s a tricky narrative.”
Previous to struggle week, Pimblett was also asked about whether or not or not he believed Chandler bent the foundations, saying that it’s on the referee to make a name if guidelines are being damaged — and likewise referenced a recent quote from Poirier, saying he would’ve bit off Chandler’s fingers if he didn’t put on a mouthguard throughout their UFC 281 matchup.
Chandler appreciated Pimblett having extra enjoyable with the narrative, though, the thrilling 155-pound fighter seen not all lightweights have had the identical angle.
“I respect Paddy for not making a giant deal out of it,” Chandler mentioned. “I imply, I feel it’s an indication of weak point while you begin speaking a couple of man dishonest. Probably the most attention-grabbing one to me was Justin Gaethje. Justin Gaethje is a savage and, like, calling me a cheater. I’m like, ‘Dude, come on, man.’ It’s a bit of little bit of an indication of weak point.
“However both manner, issues occur in there. The followers aren’t going to love every part that you simply do. Followers aren’t gonna such as you 90 % of the time ,anyway, so it doesn’t actually matter. So we’ll simply go away it at that. I’m doing precisely what I really feel mandatory within the struggle. The referees, in the event that they inform me to cease, I’m going to cease. There’s plenty of issues that you simply do contained in the octagon that you simply don’t even actually understand you’re doing and it’s the ref’s job to let you know.
“So we’ll see how these subsequent couple of fights play out.”
