Michael Chandler was never UFC championship caliber: Dismantling the myth

Michael Chandler is often cited as an example of a fighter with nearly every conceivable attribute that's fundamental to MMA success. Not only does he have a strong wrestling base with effective striking and great defensive grappling skills, but he is also explosive, fast, powerful, and exceptionally strong. Yet, he's failed to find consistent success in the UFC. Some have chalked it up to his age, but a deeper look into his career says otherwise.

Michael Chandler's run in the UFC vs. Bellator: An analysis

It's well-established that Michael Chandler's time in the UFC has been a dud in terms of his octagon success. He has reached a level of stardom touched by few, but has also lost more times than he's won. He's currently 2-6 in 8 UFC fights, having suffered a recent first-round TKO loss to Maurico Ruffy at UFC Freedom 250. His only wins have come against Dan Hooker, who he TKO'd in round one at UFC 257, and the ghost of Tony Ferguson, who he knocked out in round two at UFC 274. Every other fight has been a clear loss that has caused him to tumble down the rankings more and more. Now, he is no longer ranked in the UFC lightweight top 15.

But what of his Bellator run?

It was far more impressive than his current UFC tenure, but was Chandler truly a UFC championship caliber fighter back then? In Bellator, most of the fighters he faced weren't UFC-level. Marcin Held, who he submitted at Bellator 36, went 1-3 in the UFC, but was relatively successful elsewhere. Lloyd Wald, who 'Iron Mike' also beat at Bellator 40, never fought inn the UFC and is currently 15-8. This trend continues with Akihiro Gono, who Chandler TKO'd at Bellator 67. Gono is 38-24 and went 1-2 in the UFC. Then there's Rick Hawn, another Chandler conquest who never fought in the UFC. The same can be said about David Rickels, Derek Campos, Goiti Yamauchi, Brandon Girtz, Sidney Outlaw, and Brent Primus, none of whom ever fought in the UFC.

Meanwhile, Will Brooks, who did, went 1-3 in the promotion. Then there's Patricky 'Pitbull' Freire, the less successful 'Pitbull' brother, who is 25-16 with no UFC fights to his name. Yet, he is a foe Chandler twice beat in Bellator. His brother, Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire, avenged him by TKO'ing Chandler, yet has also struggled to find  success in the UFC, going 1-2. Two of Chandler's more notable wins came over ex-UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson. Unfortunately, both fights took place in the twilight of Henderson's career after he had parted ways with the UFC and years after he had lost the promotion's lightweight title.

So, as thrilling as his fights may be, Chandler has never been a UFC-caliber fighter. Not now and, if his record can be scrutinized, not ever.