How Many Losses Does Michael Chandler have And Against Whom?

MMA fans will get to witness a new UFC lightweight champion at UFC 262 after Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement. The winner of the main event clash between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira at UFC 262 will be the new champion. Ahead of the fight, here is everything you need to know about Michael Chandler’s every professional losses.

Chandler has a professional MMA record of 22-5-0 (W-L-D). That means he has lost five times in his professional MMA career. Out of his five losses, Chandler lost three of them via T/KO and two via decision.

First professional loss of his MMA career

‘Iron’ was 12-0 (W-L) before he suffered his first professional loss. His first professional loss came in a rematch against Eddie Alvarez at Bellator 106 on November 2, 2013. At that time, Chandler was the Bellator Lightweight World Champion.

‘Iron’ became the champion when he defeated Eddie Alvarez in their first fight at Bellator 58. Chandler won their first fight via submission (rear-naked choke) in the fourth round.

After Alvarez lost his title against Chandler, he wanted to be the one to dethrone Chandler from his title. As already mentioned above, their rematch came to fruition at Bellator 106. ‘The Underground King’ defeated Chandler via a split decision that led ‘Iron’ to suffer his first professional loss and resulted in him losing his title. 

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Michael Chandler lost twice against Will Brooks

After Chandler lost his Bellator Lightweight World Championship title against Eddie Alvarez, he planned on claiming the interim Bellator Lightweight World Championship title. To achieve that, ‘Iron’ clashed against Will Brooks at Bellator 120 on May 17, 2014. However, Chandler’s plan didn’t work as he lost the bout against Brooks via a split decision. 

After Chandler’s failed attempt to claim the interim Bellator Lightweight World Championship title, he then planned to become a two-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion. 

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At that time, the Bellator Lightweight World Championship title was vacant. Also, as Will Brooks was the interim champ, Chandler had to go through him to claim the vacant Bellator Lightweight World Championship title.

Their rematch took place at Bellator 131 on November 15, 2014, for the vacant title. Chandler lost the rematch, but this time he lost via TKO in the fourth round. It was Chandler’s third consecutive loss.

‘Iron’ lost his Bellator Lightweight Championship Title once again

Chandler’s plan to become a two-time Bellator Lightweight Champion failed when he lost against Will Brooks. However, he achieved his plan when he defeated Patricky Freire at Bellator 157 on June 24, 2016. By defeating Freire via KO in the first round, ‘Iron’ became a two-time Bellator Lightweight Champion.

Chandler put his title on the line of his second championship reign. ‘Iron’ clashed against Benson Henderson at Bellator 165 on November 19, 2016. He successfully defended his title by defeating Henderson via a split decision.

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After coming out of the first successful title defense of his second reign, ‘Iron’ clashed against Brent Primus at Bellator NYC on June 24, 2017, for his second title defense. Chandler suffered an injury on his left ankle in the first round of the fight. It led to the referee temporarily halting the fight to check on Chandler’s injury. After the doctor looked at Chandler’s injury, the fight was stopped and ruled in favor of Primus. 

Primus won the fight via TKO (doctor stoppage) in the first round. It was Chandler’s fourth professional loss of his MMA career. ‘Iron’ also lost his Bellator Lightweight Championship title for the second time.

Michael Chandler vs. Patricio Freire – Losing his title for the third time

After losing his title for the second time, ‘Iron’ claimed the title for the third time when he avenged his loss against Brent Primus at Bellator 212 on December 14, 2018. Chandler won their rematch via unanimous decision. 

Then the three-time Bellator World Lightweight Champion, Chandler, clashed against Patricio Freire for the first title defense of his third title reign. The title clash took place at Bellator 221 on May 11, 2019. Freire defeated Chandler via TKO in the first round. It resulted in Chandler losing his title for the third time. It was Chandler’s fifth and last professional loss till date.

Chandler may have lost five times in his professional MMA career, but all of his losses came against elite MMA fighters. However, ‘Iron’ has also defeated several elite fighters and wants to do it again at UFC 262 against Charles Oliveira to claim the vacant UFC lightweight title the same way he did in Bellator.

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