UFC star Michael Chandler hasn’t made many friends out of his recent opponents.
Michael Chandler faces fellow UFC fan favorite Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 314 co-main event this Saturday in Miami. After ending his long wait for Conor McGregor last year, Chandler is looking to return to the win column after a 2-4 run in the UFC Octagon.
In recent losses to Charles Oliveira and Dustin Poirier, Chandler has come under intense scrutiny from Oliveira, Poirier, fans, and some of his former rivals for controversial tactics. He’s been accused of fish-hooking, fence grabbing, and other infractions that weren’t immediately addressed by the presiding referees.
Recent controversies have resulted in Chandler being labeled a ‘cheater’ by some of his colleagues.
Michael Chandler admits he struggles with fighters labeling him a ‘cheater’
Chandler prides himself on not only competing hard in the cage, but also putting on a show for the fans in attendance. He’s repeatedly dismissed claims that he cheats to gain an unfair advantage in his fights, despite the growing chorus of detractors.
Amidst the recent controversies, Chandler admits he struggles to deal with some of his former rivals labeling him as someone who pushes the envelope inside the Octagon.
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chandler was asked how he deals with ‘cheater’ labels from some of his fighting counterparts.
“I mean, the narrative is tough,” Chandler admitted. “People don’t really know me. Unless you’re in my inner circle, you don’t know who I truly am outside of [being] in front of the camera. People have their sneaky suspicions that I play nice in front of the camera, and I’m a bad guy behind the camera.
“You’re always going to have those accusations, right? But I know who I am, and I know who I am at my core; I’m a guy who tries to do things right, tries to treat people right, do things with honor and respect. So the cheating narrative is a little tough for me, but also, it’s all part of the court of public opinion.” (h/t BJPenn)
In his recent unanimous decision loss to Oliveira, Chandler appeared to land a slew of punches to the back of the head as he attempted to finish the former titleholder. Chandler’s former Bellator rival, Brent Primus, was among the most vocal critics of the UFC star’s tactics at UFC 309.
Michael Chandler’s Bellator rival still holds a grudge over past beef ahead of UFC debut
Primus, Poirier, and Oliveira aren’t the only big-name fighters who have attacked Chandler in recent months. UFC 314 debutant Patricio ‘Pitbull’ Freire slammed Chandler for saying he would ‘beat his entire family’ in the lead-up to their Bellator 221 clash.
Despite some of Chandler’s career controversies, he remains a fan favorite amongst avid fight fans, and will likely get a big pop at UFC 314. A win over Pimblett would get Chandler back into the lightweight title mix, while a loss would move him one step closer to a potential retirement.
Chandler will fight with a lot to prove at UFC 314 as he faces the surging Pimblett in a pivotal lightweight bout. But in addition to his title aspirations, Chandler wants to be labeled as a good sport who competes with integrity.
