Michael Chandler will look to become a two-time Bellator lightweight champion tomorrow night in St. Louis, Missouri as he will meet Patricky “Pitbull” Freire for the vacant lightweight title in the co-main event of Bellator 157: Dynamite 2.
Chandler (14-3) already holds a win over Pitbull as he defeated him over five years ago at Bellator 44 in the Season Ten lightweight tournament final. With this being a rematched, Chandler gave his thoughts on his opponent during the Bellator 157 Media Conference Call earlier this week and explained how he sees himself walking away with the title tomorrow night.
“I think he has definitely improved. He has been awhile,” Chandler stated on the Bellator 157 media conference call. “He is very much the same old, same old though. He has a ton of power in his hands. Got some spectacular knockouts. He knocks guys out. You have to do your homework and prepare right. And that is exactly what I have done. I have prepared perfectly for this fight. You will see a new and improved version of myself. I am the best I have ever been with the new training camp I have been working down in Boca Raton with Neil Melanson and Henry Hooft.”
“I am excited wherever this fight goes. I am going to be prepared and like I said, I did my homework and trained perfectly for this fight and particular opponent,” he continued. “Obviously, him and I know each other well because we have fought before. We have been fighting in the same promotion for a really long time and I knew our paths would cross eventually. So I have been thinking about this fight for many years and it’s a fight I see myself going out there and getting my hand raised numerous ways. That is what is going to happen on Friday night and I am excited for it.”