Who is Michael Chandler?

Michael Chandler is one of the most popular MMA fighters in the world. Fighting under the UFC banner in the lightweight division, he is currently ranked 7th in the UFC rankings and has butted heads against some of the biggest names his division has to offer. Chandler is known for his amazing physique, aggressive fighting style, and his blue-collar work ethic.

Michael Chandler's Early Life

Michael Chandler was welcomed into this world on 24 April 1986 in the census-designated place named High Ridge in Missouri. His parents are Michael Chandler Sr. and Betty Chandler, and he is one of four siblings in his household. By citizenship, Chandler is American with an ethnic background related to German and Irish heritage. According to the lightweight star's website, 'Iron' comes from a Middle American family, who're extremely hardworking. While there isn't much to talk about his mother's profession, his father was a union carpenter and a secretary.

The success Michael Chandler had in his life, he claims, is because of the support system his father provided him. He would also talk about his father's sacrifices, with his mother by his side, has been the quintessential factor for his standing as a top-tier athlete in mixed martial arts. As a young athlete, Chandler found tremendous success in wrestling, with 100 career wins and becoming a Division I All-American, which is just a couple of accolades on the list of many more.

Michael Chandler’s Wife and Children

Michael Chandler's been off the market for a while as he's married now. He has been with his wife, Brie Chandler, for over a decade, and they got engaged in 2014. The decision to tie the knot came in September of that year, and ever since, they have been each other's backbones. Meanwhile, Brie possesses an extensive background from an educational point of view. Pursuing Biology and Psychology at Taylor University in Indiana was her first step, as Chandler's wife also acquired her graduation degree with a master's in Physician Assistant studies.

Michael Chandler and his wife also have two children, two boys, but they're not his biological sons. 'Iron' and his wife, Brie, love the idea of adoption and through that they welcomed their first son Hap of African-American descent in 2017 to their family, followed by another African-American child, Ace, who joined Chandler's family in April 2022.

Michael Chandler’s Net Worth 2024

'Iron' has been fighting in the world of MMA since 2009. But it's only been a few years of him fighting in the UFC, and he's one of the very few non-champion UFC fighters who've ever touched the million-dollar mark in terms of a single payout. As of 2024, Chandler's net worth is estimated to be looming around the $1-2 million mark. The biggest payout the 38-year-old ever received amounted to an estimated total of $1,074,500 for the Tony Ferguson fight at UFC 274, which also included bonuses.

Michael Chandler’s Career Timeline

After turning pro, Michael Chandler spent almost a decade fighting in UFC's rival promotion, Bellator. After fighting in Strikeforce and a regional promotion, racking up a 3-fight winning steak, 'Iron' would join Bellator in 2010 and extend his undefeated record to 12-0. That was the longest winning streak of his professional MMA career, defeating the likes of Patricky Pitbull, and former UFC champion Eddie Alvarez. In those 12 wins, fans saw Chandler register 5 knockouts, 5 submissions, and 2 decision wins.

Michael Chandler would rack up a record of 21 wins and 5 losses before he made his way to the UFC. Then, when he came to Dana White's $12 billion-worth promotion, he started off with a win over Dan Hooker. Chandler would also register a win over Tony Ferguson, however, he would fail three times in his 5-fight UFC career so far, against Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje - the absolute cream of the crop in the lightweight division.

And after his last appearance against Poirier for UFC 281, his bout against Conor McGregor for UFC 303 was canceled as McGregor pulled out citing injury.

Michael Chandler’s Partnerships and Endorsements

Michael Chandler has only a couple of endorsement deals. The first one is with a cryptocurrency company called CoinLoin and the other is with a whey protein brand named Dymatize.

Michael Chandler’s Career Stats and Record

Michael Chandler's current MMA record stands at 23 wins and 8 losses. The High Ridge native is a finishing expert and hence has a total of 11 knockout wins and 7 submission wins on his record. Out of the 31 fights Chandler's had, only 5 of them were winning via decision. Furthermore, to claim that his UFC debut was impressive would be an understatement, as he won the 'Debut of the Year' honor in 2021.

Besides that, Michael Chandler has also been rewarded for his tremendous performances. On two occasions, against Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson, 'Iron' was able to earn two 50 grand 'Performance of the Night' bonuses. Chandler also earned bonuses twice for 'Fight of the Night' in the losing efforts against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.

Michael Chandler’s Charity and Foundation

Michael Chandler is also quite a philanthropist. He's established an affinity with kids struggling with cancer after he once interacted with a 7-year-old patient named Robbie Chandler. The child would, unfortunately, pass away, leaving Chandler in an emotional mess, promoting him to sell customized T-shirts, which had "Blessed" imprinted on them, and he even made a tattoo of it on the left side of his chest. The revenue generated from the "Blessed" T-shirts would go to the Friends of Kids with Cancer, which was Michael Chandler's attempt to help children battle cancer.

Michael Chandler’s Titles

Michael Chandler has won many accolades in the UFC, but never any championship title. However, he was a champion when he spent 10 tears in Bellator.

• Bellator Lightweight World Championship (Three times)


• Two successful title defenses (first reign)


• One successful title defense (second reign)

Michael Chandler’s Social Media Accounts