Why did Chandler stay in Bellator for so long?

[Finding Deebo]

I know he was kind of the poster boy there but I'm still surprised he didn't move to the UFC earlier in his career. Esp. after seeing Eddie win the belt...

 

[PlasticFishBowl]

He had fights on the contract dude.

 

[Bubzeh]

In b4 “he was scared of the fighters in the UFC”.

 

[tripleo]

He had fights on the contract dude.

this, plus he probably gotten paid more

 

[blaseblah]

Money. He's not the champ anymore so Bellator probably wasn't offering as generous of a deal.

 

[Peli]

I know he was kind of the poster boy there but I'm still surprised he didn't move to the UFC earlier in his career. Esp. after seeing Eddie win the belt...

Because he felt comfortable being a big fish in a small pond he was the poster boy making decent money. Look how many losses he's had there and still got treated with the red carpet from bellator.

Once bellator decided he's a has been he tried the UFC

 

[maximus__]

I know he was kind of the poster boy there but I'm still surprised he didn't move to the UFC earlier in his career. Esp. after seeing Eddie win the belt...

He was making heaps of cash and winning titles? He had no reason to leave. he will come across to the UFC make a run at the belt and then head off into the sunset.

UFC doesn't pay aswell to non champs. The UFC may have finally made a deal to bring him across because lightweight is losing a few stars at the moment with Khabib, Conor etc not fighting as often. I actually like Chandler at 145 in the UFC if he can cut the weight. He looks too big unfortunately.

 

[Finding Deebo]

He had fights on the contract dude.

But he first won the Bellator lightweight title in 2011, and has been in there since 2010. He wasn't under the same contract for 10 years was he??

 

[Finding Deebo]

He was making heaps of cash and winning titles? He had no reason to leave. he will come across to the UFC make a run at the belt and then head off into the sunset.

UFC doesn't pay aswell to non champs. The UFC may have finally made a deal to bring him across because lightweight is losing a few stars at the moment with Khabib, Conor etc not fighting as often. I actually like Chandler at 145 in the UFC if he can cut the weight. He looks too big unfortunately.

Well there's the rub, I'm curious as to how much money he was making in Bellator.... I've never actually seen Bellator figures except for one event and the lowest paid guys got like 1500/1500....

 

[TerrorTimmy]

USADA

 

[cade187]

IIRC he flirted with moving to the UFC like 5 years ago and Bellator threw a bunch of money at him to stay.

 

[cade187]

He was making heaps of cash and winning titles? He had no reason to leave. he will come across to the UFC make a run at the belt and then head off into the sunset.

UFC doesn't pay aswell to non champs. The UFC may have finally made a deal to bring him across because lightweight is losing a few stars at the moment with Khabib, Conor etc not fighting as often. I actually like Chandler at 145 in the UFC if he can cut the weight. He looks too big unfortunately.

While there are some guys making more money in Bellator, the vast majority of their roster is paid next to nothing.

 

[Deleted member 580830]

Chandler is very good. He deserve a top 5 opponent.

 

[TheMMAnalyst]

 

[Straatblaffer]

Well there's the rub, I'm curious as to how much money he was making in Bellator.... I've never actually seen Bellator figures except for one event and the lowest paid guys got like 1500/1500....

I think he got paid 150-250k,plus Bellator is easier when it comes to outside sponsordeals. UFC doesn't pay that much for a fighter like Chandler. Even Ferguson did not make that money for a long time.

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

UFC wasn't willing to beat Bellator's offer when Chandler was available for free agency till now.

 

[RedCansLoom16]

I know he was kind of the poster boy there but I'm still surprised he didn't move to the UFC earlier in his career. Esp. after seeing Eddie win the belt...

And seeing all of Will Brooks succ...oh wait

 

[puppybird]

And seeing all of Will Brooks succ...oh wait

I haven’t seen a bust like that since baywatch!

 

[Peli]

He was making heaps of cash and winning titles? He had no reason to leave. he will come across to the UFC make a run at the belt and then head off into the sunset.

UFC doesn't pay aswell to non champs. The UFC may have finally made a deal to bring him across because lightweight is losing a few stars at the moment with Khabib, Conor etc not fighting as often. I actually like Chandler at 145 in the UFC if he can cut the weight. He looks too big unfortunately.

Chandler weighs 180 after rehdryating from 155. There's a video of him weighing himself hours after weighins.

I think he was comfortable plus the money was good plus his teammates was a top lw at the time ranked 5. Probably didn't want to come across fighting michael johnson.

 

[Peli]

UFC wasn't willing to beat Bellator's offer when Chandler was available for free agency till now.

Chandler was never a free agent. He always re-up when time came around. He said that. This year was the first year when he's fought out his contract and was a free agent but I'm sure he's talked to other companies underneath the table. Look at Pettis. Many people in that circle knew he was going to pfl while still under contract with the ufc