Michael Chandler has quickly become one of the most divisive figures in the UFC. While the former Bellator champion often presents himself as respectful and sportsmanlike in the spotlight, doubts continue to swirl about his conduct once the cameras stop rolling. One of the most outspoken critics of ‘Iron’s alleged in-cage antics is former UFC interim 155lbs champion Dustin Poirier. Never one to mince words, ‘The Diamond’ dismissed Chandler’s squeaky-clean image as nothing more than an act. “With my personal experience, he’s fake, man. And he’s a cheater! I could go on for days, I get so amped up about this. He does all sorts of stuff, man.” Poirier recently said.

The duo went head-to-head at UFC 281 in 2022, but not without controversy. Even in victory, the Louisiana native didn’t hold back from calling out what he viewed as underhanded tactics by Chandler. One of the most disturbing moments came when Poirier accused ‘Iron’ of using the illegal “fish hook” technique and rabbit punches—a move he reportedly retaliated to by sinking his teeth into Chandler’s fingers as the latter tried to lift Poirier’s head by gripping his mouth guard and pulling up. While commentators at the time clearly stated that it was indeed fish hooking, the former interim champion managed to escape the allegations. Now, with UFC 314 just a week away and the promotion making its return to Miami for the fourth time, Chandler is preparing for his next test—rising star Paddy Pimblett for the five-round co-main event.

Undefeated in the UFC and armed with razor-sharp wit, the Brit hasn’t missed a beat in dragging Chandler’s name through the mud, regarding his alleged rule-bending tendencies. “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying, You know what I mean? That’s on the ref. If he’s just throwing hammer fists at the back of Charles Oliveira’s head, Charles had the need to move his head or the ref needs to say something to him. He does hammer fist him about 12 times to the back of the head and he knows what he’s doing…If I was in that position, I’m Charles, I’m saying, ‘Ref, what are you doing here?’ Like that was some bad refereeing right there. But obviously I’ve seen the Poirier [fight], as well as Poirier saying [Chandler] tried to fish up him to get the choke and stuff like that. I’ll do the same thing as Poirier if that happens. I’ll bite his bite his finger, try and cut it off with my teeth…but I always say if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying,” Pimblett told ESPN’s Jon Anik on March 15.

And, amid the growing criticism, Chandler finally broke his silence in a recent interview with MMA Fighting, offering a personal response to the accusations and defending his integrity. “I mean, the narrative is tough, man. People don’t really know me. Unless you’re in my inner circle, you don’t know who I truly am outside of [being] in front of the camera. People have their sneaky suspicions that I play nice in front of the camera, and that I’m a bad guy behind the camera. You’re always going to have those accusations, right? But I know who I am, and I know who I am at my core. I’m a guy who tries to do things right, tries to treat people right; do things with honor and respect. So the cheating narrative is a little tough for me, but also, it’s all part of the court of public opinion, man,” he said before addressing the Poirier controversy:

“Did I grab Dustin Poirier’s mouthpiece? Yes, I did, because I thought it was his chin,” Chandler admitted. “I’ve already addressed that one. Things happen in a fight. Are you going to reach over and grab the cage? Are you going to get your fingers in the glove? Yeah. Those things are going to happen in a fight.”

The former Bellator champ further added, “In the last fight, Charles Oliveira dug his chin so deep into my eye socket that I thought I was going to go blind, which is illegal. It’s an eye gouge, right? He was grabbing my gloves when he was trying to choke me. These things happen when you’re inside of the cage. I would never say that Charles Oliveira is a cheater. His body is reacting and doing things without his brain’s permission. You’re in fight or flight. Things happen. So it’s a tough narrative.”

Chandler finally took time to address what Pimbett had to say about his methods. “I respect Paddy for not making a big deal out of it. I mean, I think it’s a sign of weakness when you start talking about a guy cheating.” Notably, Iron was once again under fire after his recent outing against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, for allegedly landing the same rabbit punches to the back of his opponent’s head. Although the referee chose not to intervene, the shadow of controversy still lingers as the former Bellator champ heads into fight week.

However, in the end, Michael Chandler left the judgment to the court of public opinion. Now, it’s the fans who will ultimately decide. As he enters the twilight of his fighting career, the upcoming clash with Paddy Pimblett could be his shot at redemption. The American, currently 1-4 in his last five appearances, spent nearly two years on the sidelines waiting for a high-profile showdown with Conor McGregor—hoping to cash in on the elusive clash. But the fight never came to fruition.

Now approaching 40, ‘Iron’ is determined to stay active, making it clear he wants to compete as much as possible this year. And with his next test set, all eyes are on how this showdown with the Liverpudlian unfolds. Despite being the youngest opponent Michael Chandler has faced in the past five years, Paddy Pimblett has no intention of playing the stepping stone. He’s coming in with plans of his own. Let’s take a closer look!

Paddy Pimblett delivers a bold prediction ahead of UFC 314 showdown with Michael Chandler

Paddy Pimblett is quickly emerging as a serious contender in the UFC’s lightweight division, especially with reigning champion Islam Makhachev likely moving up to welterweight in the near future. While the lightweight roster remains stacked, many of its top-ranked stars are entering the final chapters of their careers. That shift creates a prime opportunity for Liverpudlian — one he hopes to seize with a statement win over Michael Chandler at UFC 314.

A victory could very well catapult him into the division’s top five, aligning perfectly with his goal of climbing the ranks before year’s end. Looking ahead, Paddy Pimblett has his sights set on a potential fight in Abu Dhabi later this year. He believes that a win on that stage would solidify his claim as a worthy title challenger for 2026. As for the showdown with the former Bellator champ, Pimblett is leaving nothing to chance.

While he admitted that Michael Chandler held the edge in experience, the Liverpool native remained confident in his ability to flip the script. Speaking to ESPN MMA, he laid out his bold outlook: “I think anywhere this fight goes, I’m gonna win. The only way I lose here is if I get hit with a big, crazy, wild shot on the chin. And as you all know, Scousers don’t get knocked out. There’s no way that’s happening. I think I’m gonna finish Mike in two [rounds]. As I say, I think I can end this fight anywhere. He loves lunging in with his punches, so I can see me catching him with a shot on the way in, putting him down. I don’t see a way I lose, to be honest.”

What’s your take on Michael Chandler’s controversial moments? Do you think the former Bellator champ knowingly bent the rules, or was it just raw instinct in the heat of battle? Sound off in the comments below.