Michael Chandler suffered his toughest UFC loss to date against Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314, leading to questions about whether his best years were in Bellator and if he should consider retiring, as his path to a UFC title seems unlikely after three consecutive defeats.
Michael Chandler faced his toughest defeat since joining the UFC when Paddy Pimblett stopped him in three rounds at UFC 314. It was a shocking loss, marked by a relentless ground assault from Pimblett last Saturday night.
Unlike his usual octagon wars, Chandler didn’t come close to finishing Pimblett. The 38-year-old veteran slowed dramatically after the first round, allowing Pimblett to dominate and end the fight decisively.
This defeat dropped Chandler’s UFC record to 2-5, marking his third consecutive loss. UFC legend Matt Brown questioned if Chandler’s best days are behind him, while also praising Pimblett’s performance.
“For me there’s a little bit of questions in me: OK, how great really was Chandler or is Paddy really all that?” Brown pondered on The Fighter vs. The Writer. He speculated whether Chandler was UFC material or if he had strayed from his path by buying into the “Arturo Gatti role” Dana White assigned him.
Brown suggested both could be true: Chandler might be past his prime, and Pimblett could be a top 10 contender. “Paddy proved to me he is a top 10 guy,” Brown stated confidently.
There’s an argument that Chandler’s prime years were spent in Bellator, arriving in the UFC too late. Despite some electrifying fights in the UFC, he never replicated his Bellator success as a multi-time champion.
Brown reflected on Chandler’s journey, acknowledging his greatness but questioning if he joined the UFC out of his prime. He likened Chandler’s career trajectory to what he thought Justin Gaethje might become—a fighter known for thrilling wars rather than titles.
Predicting Chandler’s next move is challenging. Before UFC 314, Brown hinted that if Chandler lost to Pimblett, it might be time to consider life beyond fighting due to the daunting path back to title contention.
Chandler has often said he’s “not here for a long time, here for a good time,” yet with three consecutive losses, another title shot seems unlikely. Could this be the end unless a certain Irish superstar returns?
“Chandler has said it himself. It’s a belt or nothing,” Brown noted. If that’s truly his mindset, walking away might be the next step. However, if he continues fighting, fun matchups could still await him.
Pay-per-view draws may elude him unless Conor McGregor returns. A fight with McGregor now seems timely—both are on losing streaks with little at stake. Perhaps even a bare-knuckle bout could be in their future?
Brown recognizes Chandler stands at a career crossroads and wonders if we’ve seen his last fight. “I hate saying that about such a warrior like that,” he admitted, pondering Chandler’s uncertain future.
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