Michael Chandler
Pro MMA Statistics
23-11-0KO/TKO
| Win | 11 | 48% |
| Losses | 0 | 0% |
Submission
| Win | 7 | 30% |
| Losses | 0 | 0% |
Decision
| Win | 5 | 22% |
| Losses | 11 | 100% |
Career Overview
Michael Chandler
Michael Chandler Jr., known throughout his career by the nickname "Iron," is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the lightweight division of the UFC.
Chandler wrestled collegiately at the University of Missouri, where he walked onto the program without an athletic scholarship and developed into a four-time NCAA Division I qualifier and an NCAA All-American as a senior. That grueling background on the mat, built through years of practice-room competition in a major Division I conference, became the foundation for his move into mixed martial arts. After his collegiate career ended, Chandler began training in combat sports and made his professional MMA debut in 2009, quickly emerging as one of the sport's most explosive lightweights.
Chandler's game is rooted in his wrestling: relentless takedowns, scrambling ability, and a level of raw, explosive power that has produced highlight-reel finishes throughout his career. He has since added a black belt in 10th Planet jiu-jitsu, rounding out a style that pairs forward pressure and top control with dangerous striking and a granite chin.
Fighting for Bellator MMA for the majority of his early career, Chandler became a three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion. He first won the title with a submission victory over Eddie Alvarez in one of the promotion's most celebrated fights, later reclaimed the belt with a win over Patricky "Pitbull" Freire, and captured it a third time by defeating Brent Primus, cementing his standing as one of the promotion's defining champions. Since joining the UFC, Chandler has continued to deliver standout performances, including a highlight-reel knockout of Dan Hooker and a spectacular front-kick finish of former interim champion
Stats last updated: August 18, 2026
Professional Fight History
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
LKO/TKO23-11
|
Mauricio Ruffy· 11-2 | TKO (Spinning Wheel Kick and Punches)R1 · 4:29 | UFC White House - Freedom 250: Topuria vs. Gaethje |
2026Jun 14
2026Jun
|
|
WDEC23-10
|
Chad Mendes | DecisionR3 · 2:00 | RAF 3: Mendes vs. Chandler |
2025Nov 29
2025Nov
|
|
LKO/TKO22-10
|
Paddy Pimblett· 22-3 | TKO (Elbows and Punches)R3 · 3:07 | UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes |
2025Apr 12
2025Apr
|
|
LDEC22-9
|
Charles Oliveira· 34-10 | Unanimous DecisionR5 · 5:00 | UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic |
2024Nov 16
2024Nov
|
|
LSUB22-8
|
Dustin Poirier· 28-7 | Rear-Naked ChokeR3 · 2:00 | UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira |
2022Nov 12
2022Nov
|
|
WKO/TKO22-7
|
Tony Ferguson· 25-6 | KO (Front Kick)R2 · 0:17 | UFC 274: Oliveira vs. Gaethje |
2022May 07
2022May
|
|
LDEC21-7
|
Justin Gaethje· 22-3 | Unanimous DecisionR3 · 5:00 | UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 |
2021Nov 06
2021Nov
|
|
LKO/TKO21-6
|
Charles Oliveira TITLE· 30-8 | TKO (Punches)R2 · 0:19 | UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler |
2021May 15
2021May
|
|
WKO/TKO21-5
|
Dan Hooker· 20-9 | TKO (Punches)R1 · 2:30 | UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 |
2021Jan 23
2021Jan
|
|
WKO/TKO20-5
|
Benson Henderson· 28-8 | KO (Punches)R1 · 2:09 | Bellator 243 |
2020Aug 07
2020Aug
|
|
WKO/TKO19-5
|
Sidney Outlaw· 14-3 | KO (Punches)R1 · 2:59 | Bellator 237 |
2019Dec 28
2019Dec
|
|
LKO/TKO18-5
|
Patricio Pitbull TITLE· 28-4 | TKOR1 · 1:01 | Bellator 221 |
2019May 11
2019May
|
|
WDEC18-4
|
Brent Primus· 8-0 | Unanimous DecisionR5 · 5:00 | Bellator 212 |
2018Dec 14
2018Dec
|
|
WSUB17-4
|
Brandon Girtz· 15-7 | Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)R1 · 4:00 | Bellator 197 |
2018Apr 13
2018Apr
|
|
WDEC16-4
|
Goiti Yamauchi· 22-3 | Unanimous DecisionR3 · 5:00 | Bellator 192 |
2018Jan 20
2018Jan
|
|
LKO/TKO15-4
|
Brent Primus· 7-0 | TKO (Doctor)R1 · 2:22 | Bellator NYC |
2017Jun 24
2017Jun
|
|
WDEC15-3
|
Benson Henderson· 24-6 | Split DecisionR5 · 5:00 | Bellator 165 |
2016Nov 19
2016Nov
|
|
WKO/TKO14-3
|
Patricky Pitbull· 16-7 | KOR1 · 2:14 | Bellator 157 |
2016Jun 24
2016Jun
|
|
WKO/TKO13-3
|
David Rickels· 16-3 | TKO (Punches)R2 · 3:05 | Bellator 145 |
2015Nov 06
2015Nov
|
|
WSUB12-3
|
Derek Campos· 15-4 | Rear-Naked ChokeR1 · 2:17 | Bellator 138 |
2015Jun 19
2015Jun
|
|
LKO/TKO11-3
|
Will Brooks· 14-1 | TKO (Punches)R4 · 3:48 | Bellator 131 |
2014Nov 15
2014Nov
|
|
LDEC11-2
|
Will Brooks· 13-1 | Split DecisionR5 · 5:00 | Bellator 120 |
2014May 17
2014May
|
|
LDEC11-1
|
Eddie Alvarez· 24-3 | Split DecisionR5 · 5:00 | Bellator 106 |
2013Nov 02
2013Nov
|
|
WKO/TKO11-0
|
David Rickels· 14-1 | KO (Punches)R1 · 0:44 | Bellator 97 |
2013Jul 31
2013Jul
|
|
WSUB10-0
|
Rick Hawn· 14-1 | Rear-Naked ChokeR2 · 3:07 | Bellator 85 |
2013Jan 17
2013Jan
|
|
WKO/TKO9-0
|
Akihiro Gono· 33-17-7 | TKO (Punches)R1 · 0:56 | Bellator 67 |
2012May 04
2012May
|
|
WSUB8-0
|
Eddie Alvarez· 22-2 | Rear-Naked ChokeR4 · 3:06 | Bellator 58 |
2011Nov 19
2011Nov
|
|
WDEC7-0
|
Patricky Pitbull· 9-1 | DecisionR3 · 5:00 | Bellator 44 |
2011May 14
2011May
|
|
WDEC6-0
|
Lloyd Mix· 11-0 | Unanimous DecisionR3 · 5:00 | Bellator 40 |
2011Apr 09
2011Apr
|
|
WSUB5-0
|
Marcin Held· 10-1 | Technical Submission (Arm-Triangle Choke)R1 · 3:56 | Bellator 36 |
2011Mar 12
2011Mar
|
|
WSUB4-0
|
Chris Page· 1-2 | GuillotineR1 · 0:57 | Bellator 32 |
2010Oct 14
2010Oct
|
|
WKO/TKO3-0
|
Scott Stapp· 2-0 | TKO (Punches)R1 · 1:57 | Bellator 31 |
2010Sep 30
2010Sep
|
|
WSUB2-0
|
Sal Woods· 4-9 | SubmissionR1 · 0:59 | Strikeforce |
2010May 15
2010May
|
|
WKO/TKO1-0
|
Rich Bouphanouvong· 1-1 | TKOR2 · 2:07 | Strikeforce Challengers 5 |
2009Nov 20
2009Nov
|
Michael Chandler RELATED NEWS
Dustin Poirier Tells Michael Chandler to Retire After Four Straight Losses: ‘What Are You Doing?’
Dustin Poirier went on the Deep Waters podcast and asked what a lot of people in MMA have been thinking out loud: Michael Chandler, at 40 years old and 0-4 since 2022, what exactly are you doing?
UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler Picks
UFC 292 Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler fighter picks and bets. Stay up to date with the latest UFC betting advice.
Who Is Mauricio Ruffy? The UFC Fighter Who Was a Bodyguard to a Chinese Millionaire
Mauricio Ruffy worked as a bodyguard for a Chinese millionaire in Taiwan to fund his martial arts career. He is now ranked number 7 in the UFC lightweight division, has knocked out Michael Chandler on the White House lawn, and fights Arman Tsarukyan in a title eliminator at UFC 331 on September 19, 2026.
UFC 303: The Legend of Alex Pereira
UFC 303 International Fight Week concluded last night (June 29, 2024) in Las Vegas, Nevada, featuring a light heavyweight title fight that saw Alex Pereira defeat Jiri Prochazka via second-round TKO to retain his world title. The original headliner Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler, fell apart. Diego Lopes defeated Dan Ige, who accepted the fight on four hours’ notice after Brian Ortega withdrew. If Alex Pereira gets his wish after UFC 303, he will fight for a title in a third division after cleaning out the light heavyweight division. The legend of Poatan keeps growing.
UFC 303: Pereira vs. Prochazka Betting Guide
Check out the betting guide for International Fight week, UFC 303 Pereira vs. Prochazka 2. Here you will learn how to place the best bets for this massive UFC pay per view event. Conor McGregor will no longer fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas. McGregor suffered an toe injury before the press conference in Dublin. The new main event for International Fight Week is a light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka. In addition, Diego Lopes will face Brian Ortega in the co-main event, after Jamahal Hill pulled out.
Top MMA Betting Sportsbooks:
