Michael Chandler, ahead of his UFC 314 bout against Paddy Pimblett, addresses accusations of cheating in past fights, acknowledging the challenges of public perception while maintaining that such actions often occur unintentionally during intense bouts and emphasizing the role of referees in enforcing rules.
Michael Chandler admits that being labeled a cheater in the UFC is hard to digest. But when he looks in the mirror, he’s confident about who he truly is.
This Saturday, Chandler gears up for a five-round co-main event at UFC 314 against Paddy Pimblett in Miami. The former Bellator champ has faced cheating allegations after his losses to Dustin Poirier and Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.
Ahead of this crucial lightweight bout, Chandler addressed these accusations head-on.
“I mean, the narrative is tough, man,” Chandler told MMA Fighting. “Unless you’re in my inner circle, you don’t know me off-camera. People suspect I play nice on camera but am different behind it. Accusations are inevitable, right?”
“But I know who I am at my core; I strive to do things with honor and respect. The cheating narrative is tough, but it’s all part of public opinion.”
Chandler’s record stands at 2-4 in the octagon, yet he’s snagged bonuses in five of those bouts. “Iron” aims for his first win in nearly three years as he steps into the cage in 2025.
In his last fight, Chandler lost a decision to Oliveira but almost staged a comeback in Round 5. Some shots seemed questionable—were they legal?—but referee Keith Peterson didn’t intervene.
Yet again, the cheating narrative resurfaced.
“Did I grab Dustin Poirier’s mouthpiece? Yes, because I thought it was his chin,” Chandler confessed. “Things happen in a fight—grabbing the cage or gloves isn’t uncommon.”
“In our last fight, Oliveira dug his chin into my eye socket—an eye gouge! He also grabbed my gloves while choking me. These things happen. I’d never call Oliveira a cheater; it’s just fight or flight.”
Before fight week, Pimblett commented on whether Chandler bent rules, saying referees should call out infractions. He even joked about Poirier threatening to bite Chandler’s fingers during their UFC 281 clash.
Chandler appreciated Pimblett’s lighthearted take on the situation. Not all fighters share this attitude.
“I respect Paddy for not making it a big deal,” Chandler said. “It’s weak to label someone a cheater. Justin Gaethje calling me one was surprising—come on, man!”
“Things happen in there. Fans won’t always like what you do—probably dislike you most of the time anyway. I’m doing what’s necessary; if refs tell me to stop, I will.”
“We’ll see how these next fights unfold.”