Even with a 2-4 record across his six appearances in Dana White’s promotion, Michael Chandler is still a bona fide UFC star. Every time the former Bellator lightweight champion enters the cage, fans can expect a bloodbath. There is a reason why Conor McGregor picked him as his comeback opponent before pulling out at the last moment, many times over.

Iron doesn’t just pour everything into his fights; he drags his opponents up to his level, turning scraps into must-see wars. His esteemed collection of “Fight of the Night” and “Performance of the Night” bonuses back that up loud and clear. Now, as the 38-year-old gears up to face rising star Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314, Mike Tyson‘s former trainer Teddy Atlas confirmed what Dana White knew when he signed him.

It’s not about winning

Ahead of the fight, Teddy Atlas and Michael Chandler sat down together for ESPN MMA to discuss the upcoming fight. Before starting the interview, the legendary trainer compared the 38-year-old to legendary boxer Arturo Gatti, a comparison Dana White first made two years ago after Chandler’s defeat to Dustin Poirer. “You remind me of one of my favorite fighters from boxing, Arturo Gatti. No really, because all action you know all action or heart. And um and win or lose one of the rarities in any sport and in my sport, win or lose it didn’t it almost didn’t matter,” Atlas stated.

The trainer followed those claims by asking, “Is it more important to Michael Chandler to win or to leave that arena with the people feeling that way?” Chandler nodded to the value of victory, but, “there’s something that happens when that cage door closes,” he stated.

Remembering his roots, he added, “Since I was 14 years old and I started hand-to-hand combat and wrestling there was only one speed. It wasn’t always thinking about the techniques. It wasn’t always thinking about you know how do I win and it was always just like how do I give my full self to this wrestling match? How do I give my full self to this fight?”

Even though his approach can disappoint several fans who just want to watch him win, this is the only way he knows how to fight. Much like Gatti who carved his legend with grit and unforgettable wars, his trilogy with Micky Ward is still hailed as boxing’s gold standard, Chandler for his best. Gatti’s bouts snagged Ring Magazine Fight of the Year honors four times (1997, 1998, 2002, 2003), and despite dropping 9 of his 49 fights, his fearless spirit keeps his name alive.

That Gatti nod frames Chandler as a warrior with a relentless spirit, cementing his legacy beyond victories. And as he has established himself as the top star, in the same interview, the 38-year-old revealed why he accepted the fight against Pimblett.

Michael Chandler ready to leave his mark on the sport

Chandler told Atlas that his fight against The Baddy is just a veteran giving a chance to a rising star, something that many UFC stars like Poirier and Justin Gaethje have done in the past. “He’s [Paddy Pimblett] got the opportunity. This is the nature of fight sports. It’s no different than [Dustin] Poirier taking the fight against Benoit Saint-Denis, who was outside the top ten. Justin Gaethje, the first time, fought Rafael Fiziev, fighting a guy outside of the top ten,” he stated.

For Chandler, it’s clear legacy outweighs everything else, and he’s hell-bent on etching his name into UFC lore. Fighting a rising star like Pimblett rather than waiting for McGregor is exactly that. A victory could rocket The Baddy into the stratosphere, while even a defeat promises Pimblett a barnburner for ages. Hardly a loss when it’s bound to be career-defining.

What do you think about Michael Chandler’s comparison with Arturo Gatti? Let us know your thoughts down below.