On Saturday night time, Michael Chandler suffered his third straight defeat in opposition to the streaking Paddy Pimblett. Chandler received sliced open by an intercepting knee and completed with floor and pound within the third spherical. Chandler’s UFC run has been very entertaining, however the outcomes have been removed from what Chandler needed. Now, at 38 years of age, Chandler finds himself in a tough place.
What’s subsequent for Michael Chandler After UFC 314?
Going into this combat, Michael Chandler was ranked at #7 within the Light-weight division, however with a defeat to #12 ranked Pimblett, Chandler now has to take an additional step again in competitors. Following his combat in November in opposition to Charles Oliveira, he acknowledged “Essentially the most ache I’ve ever been in my total life, essentially the most accidents I’ve ever had in a combat for certain. Peed blood, irritation throughout, my entire physique is swollen”, so many followers had been shocked by the fast turnaround. Did Chandler enter this combat injured?
So, what’s subsequent for him? A while off would doubtless do Chandler favours, permitting him to get well from two back-to-back robust fights, nonetheless, along with his age, a while off would doubtless not be ultimate. Who ought to Chandler combat subsequent, and when? A matchup with certainly one of Renato Moicano or Beneil Dariush can be a great check. They aren’t polarizing prospects, however revered, gritty veterans on the outer fringe of the highest 10. A great timeline for Michael Chandler would doubtless be the Madison Sq. Backyard card in November, or the final Pay-Per-View of the yr, in December.
This may permit Chandler to reset and get well from his accidents, and probably earn one other shot at one of many Light-weight division’s high fighters in 2026. Nonetheless, one other loss for Chandler would doubtless be the top of issues for him on the high of the division. Many are discrediting Pimblett’s win already, however we’ve got by no means seen Chandler get fully nullified and overwhelmed up like this. In his prior losses within the UFC, Chandler has at all times discovered a strategy to have success, however on this combat, Chandler had little to no success. Pimblett placed on a career-best efficiency within the centre of the Kaseya Heart.
As for Pimblett, he’ll doubtless have earned himself a matchup inside the high 5 of the Light-weight division. Pimblett is a large enough star to headline his personal non-title Pay-Per-View, in opposition to the likes of a Dustin Poirier or Justin Gaethje. Paddy Pimblett referred to as for a high 5 matchup in his post-fight interview:
