“All is fair in love and war”—a phrase popularized by 16th-century writer John Lyly in Euphues—has long been used to justify questionable actions in the name of victory. World leaders may preach peace and diplomacy, but behind the scenes, they often engage in strategic manipulation to get what they want. Interestingly, the MMA world isn’t much different. Just like political arenas, the fight game has its share of behind-the-scenes antics, unspoken codes, and moments where the line between gamesmanship and foul play becomes blurry. And right now, no one represents that gray area more than Michael Chandler.

A former 3-time Bellator champion and current UFC lightweight contender, ‘Iron’ has built a reputation for being an explosive fighter. But his last couple of outings have become a theater seat to a different narrative where the Missouri native has been labeled as a “cheater.” That label first emerged when his former rival, Dustin Poirier, appeared on the Off Guard podcast and didn’t hold back while revisiting their clash at UFC 281.

Recalling their heated exchange inside the Octagon, ‘The Diamond’ said: “Fake, man. And he’s a cheater!… He does all sorts of stuff, man.” According to Dustin Poirier, Michael Chandler resorted to illegal tactics like fish hooking, rabbit punches, and eye pokes during their fight. Other fighters also corroborated the Louisiana native’s claims including Charles Oliveira who was the victim of another set of rabbit punches in the duo’s second outing at UFC 309. Moreover, even his UFC 314 opponent Paddy Pimblett gave a scathing remark about Chandler’s reputation as a nice man outside the cage but being an absolute ripper inside the Octagon.

As the heat builds and ‘Iron’ prepares for the Miami PPV co-main event showdown against the Englishman, the criticism has only intensified. Meanwhile, Poirier, who’s inching closer to what may be his final UFC appearance, is set to return in a different role—as a desk analyst for UFC 314. Ahead of the event, he joined Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen for a YouTube segment for ESPN MMA, where the topic of Chandler came up once again.

Sonnen posed the question directly: “Is Michael Chandler a cheater, bro?” Dustin Poirier replied: “Dude, seriously. He’s a competitor, I think.” While Poirier confirmed that Chandler did use a fish hook on him during their fight, he also made it clear that he didn’t believe Iron’s actions stemmed from malice. Instead, he sees it as part of Chandler’s relentless will to win: “I don’t know if it’s premeditated, but he’s out there to win.” And finally, offering a bit of philosophical reflection, Poirier added: “I don’t think he’s deliberately doing it. He’s just trying to win. I mean, all is fair in love and war, and this guy is at war in there—scratching and clawing, doing whatever he can to get the W. I don’t think he’s trying to be dirty.”

Still, it raises a bigger question—intentional or not, how are these illegal moves consistently slipping past the referees? Pimblett didn’t hold back either. He pointed fingers at the officials, calling out their failure to act in moments that matter. Referring to Chandler’s past clash with Oliveira, ‘The Baddy’ said, “Like, that’s on the ref. He’s just throwing hammer fists at the back of Charles Oliveira’s head. Charles either needs to move his head, or the ref needs to say something to him.” With concerns mounting over Chandler’s questionable in-cage tactics, Pimblett has just one wish heading into their fight. Let’s see what that is.

What’s Paddy Pimblett’s only “hope” ahead of his showdown against Michael Chandler?

Paddy Pimblett is well aware of the controversies surrounding Michael Chandler—and he hasn’t forgotten how previous referees have allegedly turned a blind eye to the ex-Bellator champ’s questionable tactics inside the Octagon. With cheating allegations now swirling louder than ever, many fighters are speaking out, calling attention to the stark contrast between ‘Iron’s public persona and his behavior during fights.

Although Paddy may hold a reach advantage over the former Bellator champion, Chandler’s history of alleged dirty tactics remains a serious concern—especially for Pimblett, who became a father to twin girls just last year. What was once brushed off as mind games or heat-of-the-moment aggression has now become a legitimate fear, especially with their clash looming just hours away? Right now, Paddy Pimblett isn’t asking for much—just a referee who will do their job and keep things fair. With Chandler’s history of controversial tactics, ‘The Baddy’ made it clear he didn’t want to be on the receiving end of missed calls.

Speaking to the media, the Liverpudlian expressed his concerns, saying: “I hope I’ve got a good ref like [Marc] Goddard or [Jason] Herzog. I don’t wanna have a ref that’s just gonna let me get rabbit-punched in the back of the head consistently. The one he did to Gaethje was bad as well—he poked him in the eye, the ref went to step in, and Chandler just blasted him in the face as hard as he could.”

What’s your take on Dustin Poirier’s latest comments? Do you believe Michael Chandler’s illegal moves inside the Octagon are unintentional mistakes or a seasoned veteran like him with 16 years of experience is fully aware of what he’s doing? Share your thoughts in the comments below.