Bellator’s Mike Chandler Talks Tourney Win, Facing Eddie Alvarez

Mike Chandler called his shot, plain and simple.

The All-American wrestler from Mizzou turned Xtreme Couture fighter entered into Bellator’s strongest lightweight tournament yet and guaranteed victory from the beginning.

Few gave Chandler a chance to win the tournament and secure a bout against champion Eddie Alvarez. But the doubters added motivation and after winning bouts in the first two rounds, Chandler outworked the favored Patricky “Pitbull” Friere to become this season’s lightweight tournament winner.

“I never saw myself as the dark horse but I know a lot of people considered me that. The beauty of the Bellator format is that you get to prove yourself and that is exactly what I did this season.”

Rather than employ a wrestling-heavy game plan, Chandler chose to keep the fight standing for the majority of the first two rounds. Bellator’s commentary team, including champion Alvarez thought it a misstep, but Chandler found success against the dangerous striking of Friere.

“I can’t say enough my training and my coaches. Gil Martinez is literally the best boxing coach in the world in my opinion. I’m not surprised at all in how good my hands have become over such a short time and I owe that to Gil. We have been working on a lot of sticking and moving, keeping that jab long and getting out after I land. We went out there, got in his face and Gil wanted me to stay away from his power so that’s what I did. I hit him with two or three quick jabs and he kept throwing bombs trying to counter but we were just too quick for him. We work on footwork a lot. We work a lot on angles and coming forward so that prepared me for what I was going to see. Patricky did catch me with that one knee but that was pretty much it. We were able to come in, avoid big shots and then slip and move out after I landed. The plan was to be elusive but remain aggressive and I feel as if I accomplished that. I want to be in your face. I want my feet to be quick and to see those punches coming and that is something that Gil keeps pushing me on. He tells me that I’m getting better and I’m going to see those punches coming from a mile away. When I first started that wasn’t so easy but now I’m slipping those big shots and that allows me to do the damage I want to do. Gil has crafted my stand up and I’m the type of guy that if he wants me to run through a brick wall to learn what I have to learn then so be it.”

As for the champion’s commentary Chandler stated, “I went back, watched the fight and listened to what Eddie [Alvarez] said. I think the beauty of the whole thing is that he seemed baffled by what I was doing. His call was that Patricky could knock me out if he catches me with anything, that I wasn’t dangerous and was just coming out to look for takedowns. I was able to pick Patricky apart and land some big shots that who knows if they land on Alvarez? He might be able to take them, maybe not…but we’ll see. Alvarez was expecting me to go out and only look for the takedown and now he sees that I bring more than that to the table.”

During the second round a wild exchange broke out between Chandler and Friere. Pitbull launched a flying knee and after a slam, scramble and flurry Chandler tapped his inner ninja and landed a flying sidekick square on Friere’s chin.

“It’s so funny that you asked me about that,” Chandler laughed. “After the fight, Gil and I were getting ready to get something to eat and after I showered it hit me that I literally did a Street Fighter, Ryu, 3 Ninjas flying sidekick in the fight. I turned to him and said, “Coach…what about that kick?” It had slipped his mind as well but when I said that we started laughing. I have no idea why I did it. I can’t tell you where it came from. I’ve never in my life trained for anything like that but it just came out. I watched the tape and it was one of those deals where I was throwing the 1-2, running at him Vitor Belfort style and rather that using a knee or elbow like a normal mixed martial artist I decided to go Street Fighter on him. I got caught up in the moment and my brain for some reason told me to put my heel on his chin. The kick landed so I’m glad it worked out. Believe me it took me by surprise and I was thinking to myself, “I just threw a flying sidekick. Where did that come from?”

Upon the conclusion of the second round it appeared that Chandler’s pace was beginning to wear on the Brazilian striker.

“I felt Patricky breaking in the second round after that flurry and the kick. Being a wrestler and going through so many one-on-one matchups I can feel when my opponent’s body is giving in and that’s what was happening to him in the second. Right before the bell I hit him with a big left as he was still on the ground and when I looked down at him I saw the look on his face. I went back to my corner and I knew that he was defeated. After every round I knew I was getting the better of him so when that bell rang I was back up and across the cage, right in his face. I wanted to take him into deep water because that’s where I shine and it worked out just as we had planned it.”

The fight went the distance and when the judge’s cards were read, Chandler became the recipient of $100,000 and a title shot against one of the top lightweight fighters in the world. But despite a strong performance and the ensuing victory, Chandler didn’t seem pleased.

“After the fight I heard a few boos so that bothered me a little bit. It was to be expected I guess because I threw those kicks and at least two of them landed. I apologized sincerely after the fight because they weren’t intentional. I’m a people pleaser and I am always looking to make the fans happy so if I hear those things after the fight it gets to me a little bit. I always want to be an exciting fighter and someone people look forward to watching. I wanted to finish Patricky so bad but I didn’t get the TKO this time around. I wasn’t all too excited to see Alvarez in the cage after the fight but I did set my eyes on that belt and it’s definitely the thing I want the most.”