Michael Chandler is ready to make a statement when he goes head-to-head with Paddy Pimblett in a major lightweight clash.
The MMA stars are scheduled to go toe-to-toe at UFC 314, on April 12, at the Kaseya Center in Miami, Florida, USA.
And while fans initially mocked Chandler for accepting the Pimblett fight, because he’d spent so much time waiting for Conor McGregor, ‘Iron’ is actually going into this one with a spring in his step.
After suffering a devastating loss to Charles Oliveria, the American has gone back to the drawing board, and thinks he’s found a way forward.
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Michael Chandler promises to ‘take out’ frustrations on Paddy Pimblett’s ‘face’
Michael Chandler was rendered devastated following his latest defeat, with the sublime wrestler having to dig deep to return to the sport.
Now, with a new lease of life, he’s adamant that Paddy Pimblett is in for a rude awakening.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, he said: “I was so sure that this is exactly how it was supposed to be, that I’d lose to Charles Oliveira in the first fight, lose my opportunity at a world title, to then getting to fight him for the number one contender spot, to then fight Islam Makhachev, who’s a bigger name, a more seasoned champion. And I was just 100% sure I was going to win.
“I’m not a big excuses guy, but I know what happened in that fight, and it hindered me, and I have now healed, and we are good. I’m excited to go.
“Unfortunately, I’ve got to take it out on Paddy Pimblett. But somebody was going to get it taken out on their face, their body and their soul, months after that loss, because it was a very painful one.
“I got into an SUV with my wife, and I just cried. I sat there and said, ‘This could’ve been the last one’. This sport, it’s hard to get a title shot, it’s like lightning in a bottle to get a title shot in the UFC.
“I felt like I’d squandered that opportunity, and said, ‘I feel like this could be the last one’. Now, I’ve somewhat licked my wounds, and I have a new fire about me, and cooler heads have prevailed.
“I thought, ‘No, it was just another loss, we’re going to move forward, we’re going to beat Paddy Pimblett, and we’re going to see the state of the lightweight division, which is heating up.”
Michael Chandler reveals whether the Conor McGregor fight will ever happen
While Pimblett is a great match-up for Chandler, it’s not the contest he really wants, with the former Bellator champion having spent years chasing McGregor.
The pair marinated their showdown nicely, filming an intense series of The Ultimate Fighter.
Alas, their bout, despite being formally announced, never came to fruition.
Now, Chandler has given an update on whether he’ll ever face McGregor.