When Michael Chandler steps into the cage on Saturday night at Bellator 131, it will be almost 3 years to do the day since the fight against Eddie Alvarez that launched him into stardom.
It was the fight that gave him the lightweight title and it propelled him to becoming the face of Bellator for the next several years.
However after dropping back to back fights, one in another instant classic with Alvarez, and another to his opponent Saturday night, Will Brooks, Chandler is in desperate need of a victory.
The former lightweight champ cites the short notice nature of the first Brooks fight as one of the reasons he came out of the wrong side of the razor-thin decision.
“With the training camp and the lack of preparation I had for that last fight, I came out as hard, fast and violent as I could, like I always do… My cardio wasn’t there and that kind of stuff. I’m the kind of guy that doesn’t pace himself.”
“It doesn’t matter what kind of camp I had or what kind of shape I’m in – you’re going to get every ounce of my being. So that’s what I did in the first two rounds. I was a little bit out of it, to say the least, in the third and fourth rounds. So that’s why he was able to come back.”
Chandler insists that his preparation for this fight has been geared toward better cardio to not allow for similar faults.
“This time, with a good training camp and proper preparation, it’s going to be a different fight than the first one. A lot will be different this time. I’ve changed up my training camp and it’s literally been the best camp of my life. My body feels great. I’ve switched up a few things, I’ve learned a few things and I’m taking care of my body better than ever before. “
As for how the rematch with Brooks will go down on a busy Saturday night?
“I don’t think Will Brooks is on my level but, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to show that in the last fight. This time, I have all the confidence in the world that I’m going to show that. I’m going to get a finish right here in front of my home crowd in San Diego.”
“Every single time I step into the cage, it’s always my goal to put on a show for the fans. It’s not why I fight – it just happens to be that way. The way I compete is to come forward, get in your face and just attack. People want to see that. This sport is not made for people who want to just hang out and be a part of MMA. This sport is meant for people who want to go out there and finish people in exciting fashion. So that’s what I’m going to do.”