Former Bellator MMA lightweight champion Michael Chandler has signed an exclusive contract with the UFC, and will serve as a potential backup to the company’s highly anticipated lightweight title fight in October.
UFC president Dana White announced Chandler’s signing on SportsCenter. Chandler (21-5) has been considered one of the top fighters competing outside the UFC for years. The 34-year-old has fought exclusively in Bellator since 2010. He recently fought out his contract in August and tested free agency for the first time in his career.
Chandler confirmed the signing to ESPN via text message.
“Eventually hard work pays off, you just have to still be standing there when it does,” Chandler told ESPN. “I’m humbled by the opportunity and can’t wait to go prove what I have been saying for the past 11 years; that I’m the best lightweight in the world. See you at the top!”
The UFC’s current lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov (28-0) is scheduled to defend his title against interim champion Justin Gaethje (22-2) at UFC 254 on Oct. 24, on “Fight Island” in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. White said Chandler will travel to Abu Dhabi and make weight, in the event either Nurmagomedov or Gaethje is forced to withdraw for whatever reason.
ESPN.com ranks Chandler the No. 7 lightweight in the world. He held the Bellator title three times in his career. He first won the championship in 2011, by defeating Eddie Alvarez in a Fight of the Year candidate. Chandler’s most high-profile wins have come against Alvarez and former UFC champion Benson Henderson, who he beat twice. His last loss came to Bellator’s featherweight champion Patricio Freire in May 2019.
The UFC tried to book a lightweight fight between Tony Ferguson (25-4) and Dustin Poirier (26-6) for the same date, but could not come to terms on a deal with Poirier. Fegurson publicly campaigned for the UFC to salvage the fight, but the UFC ultimately has turned to Chandler as a backup for the UFC 254 pay-per-view.