Will Michael Chandler end up in the UFC after Bellator 243?
Michael Chandler is one of the best lightweights in the world. He is fighting the last fight on his current contract with Bellator.
The MMA community awaits the next move of Chandler. Many are anticipating his long-awaited move to the UFC.
Chandler is betting on himself as he puts his future on the line tonight against Ben Henderson.
“You definitely have to embrace the pressure,” Chandler told MMA Fighting. “There’s pressure that goes along with every, single fight. The good thing is I haven’t really looked at this as if this is anything more than just another fight.
“It’s trying to be as professional as possible, taking the emotion out of it. Taking the fears and the doubts out of it all. I just need to go out there and do my job. I think more than anything it’s exciting.”
Chandler is not sure where his future will lead him but if he ends up in Bellator he’d have absolutely no problem with it.
“I would love nothing more than to be the guy who started with Bellator and finishes with Bellator and retires with Bellator and ends up getting a job with Bellator after my career is over,” Chandler said. “All of that sounds like an awesome possibility because I love what the Bellator brand has done.
“I love what Bellator has done for me. I love Scott Coker and Rich Chou and now Mike Kogan coming on and taking on a leadership role. He’s been awesome to work with. It’s been awesome over the last few years.”
Chandler knows there are other options available for him and wants to test uncharted waters.
“I’m excited about the possibilities,” Chandler said. “We know all my different possibilities. Fighting in the UFC and fighting [Justin] Gaethje and I know I could be the guy that could go out there and beat Khabib [Nurmagomedov]. Fighting a Conor [McGregor], fighting these guys.
Chandler makes the walk to the cage in just a few hours and expects to get his hand raised.
“The pressure is something that’s always going to be there and it’s accepting that the pressure is always going to be there. It’s accepting the uncertainty of the opportunity that’s about to happen,” Chandler said.
“I just believe that I’ve made my decision and I’m going to go out there on Aug. 7 and see where it takes us.”
