Issue 152
March 2017
"Iron" Michael Chandler recaps five of the fights that defined his stellar career so far.
1. In the deep end – Kyle Swadley, FB: First Blood
Tyron didn’t have a foot in the door, so he started fighting a bunch of amateur fights. I hopped right into the pro circuit. It was a small venue, maybe 500 people inside of a little ballroom in Missouri. I remember not being nervous at all for some reason.
I think I was just so confident I knew I was going to go in there and win. It’s different the first time you step into a cage and they lock you in there. I don’t remember that fight. It was a first-round TKO. I went in there, took him down and threw like 200 punches on the ground.”
2. One for the ages – Eddie Alvarez, Bellator 58
“That was a few months after the (Patricky) ‘Pitbull’ fight. I was a young kid, still unknown in the MMA world. To get to fight a top-five guy in the world was a phenomenal catapult for me. I knew I was going to win.
I wasn’t overly impressed with his accolades. I knew that I had done more than him in the wrestling world. I knew I had pushed my body harder than he ever had. It was a war. It gave me an opportunity to show how tough I was. It gave me an opportunity to show my skill.
That was the number one fight of all my fights. Holy cow. People were saying, ‘It was great when you did this or that.’ I said, ‘I will have to take your word for it. I don’t remember a thing.’”
3. Redemption – Derek Campos, Bellator 138
I was on a three-fight losing streak. I went 688 days without a win. Finishing Derek Campos, who is a very tough competitor, was probably the best feeling I have felt in my career. I felt like I had 1,000lb of chains around my neck.
To have that lifted and give myself permission to get back on that road to a world title was amazing.”
4. One of the best – Benson Henderson, Bellator 165
“This was the biggest fight of my career. I felt like I was going to put on a great performance then I went out there and basically shut him out. Benson is a tough, tough guy. He never slows down.
He has an endless gas tank. It is virtually impossible to beat him by decision unless you are on top of your game and one of the top guys in the world. Frankie Edgar, one of my idols, couldn’t do it. So many great fighters couldn’t beat Benson Henderson.
Beating him made a statement that I am one of the top guys in the world in Bellator or the UFC.”
5. Growth experience – Eddie Alvarez 2, Bellator 106
“My first loss changed my life. It helped me grow – the second fight with Eddie.
At the time I was the champion. I was 12-0 with 10 finishes. I was that fast-paced finisher. Alvarez did his homework and he prepared a certain way for me.
It was a split decision. I got my face jacked up. A lot of people thought I won so that soothed the sting a bit, but you never forget your first loss. It shakes you and it changes you.”
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