Life in the fight game moves fast, but sometimes, life outside the octagon takes priority. For former Bellator champion and current UFC lightweight contender, Michael Chandler, the focus has recently shifted away from title aspirations following a challenging run.
Chandler, a fan favorite known for his explosive style, finds himself in an unfamiliar position, navigating a three-fight losing streak. This marks the longest such skid in his extensive professional mixed martial arts career. The defeats have come against some of the lightweight division`s elite: Dustin Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and most recently, Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314.
While Chandler needs a win to regain momentum, his recent setback has apparently been viewed as an opportunity by others in the division. Enter Terrance McKinney. Known for his electrifying, albeit brief, performances, McKinney has never seen a fight reach the judges` scorecards. Every one of his victories and losses has ended inside the distance, usually in the first round – a “kill-or-be-killed” approach in its purest form.
Following Chandler`s loss to Pimblett, McKinney took to social media to issue a direct challenge. The premise? To settle the score on who is the lightweight division`s premier first-round finisher. In a rather blunt fashion, McKinney stated, “lol twrecks vs iron Mike let’s see who is the best first rd’er in the lightweight division.” He also added a comment suggesting Chandler needed a win and shouldn`t view him as an easy opponent.
Adding a peculiar twist to his challenge, McKinney made a potentially awkward remark referencing Chandler`s family life. He also dismissed Chandler`s 2022 knockout win over Tony Ferguson, a fighter who was, at the time, deep into a significant losing streak, implying that victory doesn`t hold much weight in evaluating Chandler`s current form. McKinney himself is coming off back-to-back stoppage wins, keeping his finishing record intact.
Despite the call-out from the exciting, yet unranked, McKinney, a showdown isn`t imminent. Chandler recently provided an update on his status, explaining that his current focus is entirely on his family. After welcoming a new daughter, he is taking time to adjust to the new dynamic at home, a break he feels is deserved after a long period, including the build-up and eventual cancellation of his anticipated fight with Conor McGregor.
Chandler indicated that he has communicated his intentions to the UFC, requesting not to be contacted about a fight booking until at least the fall. As for actually stepping back into the octagon, he anticipates that happening towards the end of 2024, or more likely, in early 2025.
So, while Terrance McKinney sees a chance to test his first-round credentials against a big name needing a rebound, Michael Chandler is currently prioritizing life outside the cage. This leaves both fighters` next steps uncertain, with Chandler`s comeback bout eagerly awaited, regardless of who stands across from him when he eventually returns.
