Michael Chandler and Patricio Pitbull aren’t on the same page when it comes to a potential rematch.
A former three-time lightweight champion in Bellator MMA, Chandler suffered his final title loss at the hands of rival Patricio Pitbull in 2019. Pitbull TKO’ed Chandler with punches 61 seconds into the opening round to become the promotion’s first simultaneous two-division champion at Bellator 221.
It was quite the feat for the legendary Pitbull. Not only did he win a second belt, Patricio also avenged his brother Patricky who had been KO’ed by Chandler years prior.
This was also Chandler’s last defeat before joining the ‘shark-infested’ UFC roster in 2020.
Believe it or not, the Pitbull brothers’ series with Michael Chandler dates back all the way to 2011. The American said their rivalry was in large part due to miscommunication over the English-Portuguese language barrier, a claim Pitbull has since refuted.
Patricio Pitbull: Michael Chandler once said ‘he would beat my entire family’
Two divisions apart as they once were a decade ago, Chandler’s not interested in rehashing the heated rivalry to get one back on Patricio Pitbull.
As for Pitbull, Chandler’s former foe thinks differently of their history.
“He knows what he meant back in [Bellator],” Pitbull told CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri.
“There was no mistranslation. He said he would beat my entire family.
“My entire family is my entire family, not just my brother. He said what he said.
The words spoken, they never be can be taken back.”
While the former Bellator champions aren’t exactly buddy-buddy in the UFC all of these years later, Pitbull did say he’d be cordial with Chandler, claiming he’ll shake his hand if they cross paths at UFC 314.
Patricio Pitbull wants rematch with Michael Chandler
Chandler and Pitbull are one fight apart from each other on the UFC 314 main card with Chandler fighting Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event and Pitbull’s debut coming against Yair Rodriguez.
Their rivalry considered a thing of the past, Patricio Pitbull still expresses his desire to meet Chandler, this time, on the world’s grandest stage in the UFC Octagon.
“If we have an opportunity to fight, I will want to fight,” Pitbull said of a potential rematch with Chandler.
“In the cage, is what I mean,” Pitbull made clear, not wanting any altercations between now and Apr. 12.
Michael Chandler probably won’t be too pleased to know his longtime rival is giving Paddy Pimblett tips on how to beat him…
