Most fighters in MMA have ‘skeletons in their closet,’ just like many others in the spotlight. From Jon Jones and his legal controversies to Conor McGregor’s civil lawsuit, the sport is no stranger to drama outside the Octagon. And Michael Chandler is no exception. While not embroiled in scandals to the same degree, the former Bellator champion has faced his share of criticism—particularly from fellow fighters Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Justin Gaethje. During their clash at UFC 281, Poirier accused Chandler of fish-hooking and rabbit punches—two illegal tactics that can easily sway the momentum of a fight.

Similarly, Oliveira pointed out that Chandler struck him on the back of the head multiple times during their rematch at UFC 309. This raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike. Now, as Chandler prepares to face Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314, the British star hasn’t hesitated to bring up those past controversies. During the UFC 314 media day, Pimblett addressed Chandler’s history, claiming he would warn the referee before the fight started about any potential cheating. The Englishman even went on to say:

“He’s the nicest man in the world he outside the cage and then when he gets in there he’s a dirty ba—-d, isn’t he? I always say if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. I understand what he’s trying to do. He wants to win. That’s the main thing when it comes to this game. But yeah, I probably will mention to the ref in the back, if he’s going to grab my glove I’m going to say [something]. If he tries to poke me in the eye and stuff like that.”

But is Pimblett without his own baggage? Many fans would say no! One of the most controversial moments in Pimblett’s career came at UFC 282 during his bout with Jared Gordon. Despite Gordon delivering what many viewed as a masterclass performance, the judges awarded the win to Pimblett. Gordon troubled Pimblett with sharp boxing, and many believed he had done enough to win. However, the judges gave Pimblett a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x 3), sparking outrage among fans who claimed it was a robbery and insisted Gordon should have won. Still, Pimblett insisted the fight was “not close” while speaking to Joe Rogan inside the Octagon, a statement that only intensified the backlash.

Naturally, Chandler didn’t miss the opportunity to take a jab at Pimblett over the controversy. In a recent interview with Sky Sport NZ, he referenced his teammate’s fight while discussing his mindset for the upcoming bout. “You know it’s hard cause I don’t like to brag on myself too much but I do think I’m different than Bobby Green and Jordan Leavitt, and some of these other guys, and Jared Gordon, who is a friend of mine, a training partner of mine. Indeed, in a lot of people’s eyes, mine included, he beat Paddy Pimblett, the scores you know, the judges were just sleeping that night for some reason. So I think I’m just gonna be too heavy and too fast of a pace for him, he’s been hit, but he has never been hit by these hands.”

‘Iron’ is undoubtedly the toughest test of Paddy Pimblett’s UFC career. Pimblett steps into the Octagon riding high off the two biggest wins of his run so far — a unanimous decision victory over Tony Ferguson and a first-round guillotine submission of King Green. These back-to-back wins extended his undefeated UFC streak to six and earned him the #12 spot in the lightweight rankings.

But facing #7-ranked Michael Chandler won’t be smooth sailing for Pimblett like his past matchups. There’s a reason Chandler remains in the top ten despite never winning a UFC title. A former Bellator champion, Chandler brings a wealth of experience and explosive power — and he’s taking this bout personally.

That moment hasn’t been forgotten — by either Chandler or Gordon himself. In fact, Gordon is still chasing redemption and revealed his desire for a rematch at UFC 314. While speaking to Home of Fight, he said: “I doubt it, unless my teammate Chandler falls off the card and I get my rematch with Paddy. I’ve been manifesting it. No offense to Mike, he’s my buddy, but you know, that’s how opportunities come about, and you have to seize the moment, so of course, in my mind, I’m like I want it to happen.”

Still, not everyone is sold on the idea that Pimblett will be an easy target. Gilbert Burns, Gordon’s teammate, and friend, recently issued a warning about taking the Englishman lightly. As UFC 314 approaches, the stakes are higher than ever. All eyes will be on this one — because for Pimblett, there’s more on the line than just another win.

Michael Chandler faces a warning bell from Gilbert Burns before UFC 314

In a recent clip from UFC 314 Embedded, Michael Chandler was spotted in a training session with Gilbert Burns at Kill Cliff FC. During the prep, Burns opened up about his experience training with Chandler’s upcoming opponent. He said, “Michael’s great, you know, like, fixing a guy is very tough. I had the honor to grapple with Paddy when I was in Manchester. Guy has high-level grappling, so the key to Michael is to keep the fight on his feet. If he has to grapple and if he has to take this guy out, take it out on the ground and pound. Cause we don’t wanna grapple the grappler.”

Burns has praised the Englishman before as well, during his appearance on the JAXXON Podcast. The BJJ expert pointed out that Pimblett is still undefeated in the UFC and has already beaten some solid names. And guess who he mentioned when talking about those opponents? It was none other than Chandler’s friend, Jared Gordon.

‘Durinho’ may know his Kill Cliff teammate’s arsenal well, but he’s not taking Pimblett lightly. Do you think Chandler will be able to showcase his full prowess and walk away with the win? Share your thoughts in the comments below!