![Michael Chandler reflects on final years in Bellator [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/01/7dcd0-17377561244135-1920.jpg)
![Michael Chandler reflects on final years in Bellator [Image courtesy: Getty Images]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Michael Chandler recently opened up about his final years competing in Bellator and his mindset at the time. Chandler believes he was ready to compete in the UFC, but remained with the Scott Coker-led promotion until his contract was up.
The former Bellator lightweight champion was one of the top fighters to ever compete for the promotion and among their top homegrown stars. Chandler headlined several events and took advantage of the added exposure when competing on events featuring past UFC greats including Ken Shamrock, Chael Sonnen and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson.
During his latest appearance on Red Hawk Recap, 'Iron' described his feelings during his final years under contract with Bellator and noted that he knew it was time to move on. Chandler mentioned that he was grateful for the promotion but wanted to test himself against the best lightweights in the world:
Trending
"I'll forever be indebted to Bellator for believing in me and giving me a chance but those last couple of years, I was ready to get out. I knew I needed to go to the UFC for myself...I remember being not a household name and how long it is...Do I take this fight? Do I do this camp? Do I take the damage for this amount of money? I remember being there and it's a tough place to be. Making it in this sport is not easy." [29:26]
Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more
Check out the full episode featuring Michael Chandler's comments below:
When did Michael Chandler part ways with Bellator?
Michael Chandler concluded his Bellator tenure in impressive fashion as he knocked out former UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in his final bout with the promotion in 2020.
Chandler took a massive risk as a loss could have jeopardized his leverage when testing free agency. It ended up working out well as he finished Henderson in the first round and then joined the UFC shortly after and served as a backup for Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Justin Gaethje.
'Iron's' tenure with the promotion lasted from 2010 until 2020 and saw him win the lightweight championship on three occasions as well as their season 4 lightweight tournament.
Check out Michael Chandler's knockout win over Benson Henderson below:
