Michael Chandler is so frustrating to root for

[Russ82]

Stop trying to explain it away.

Over time, it all comes out in the wash. He is not capable of competing with top 5 opponents. Mike throws the kitchen sink out of the gate at these guys because its all he can do. Skill for skill he's nowhere near the level of Poirier and Do Bronx, fighting full YOLO is his best strategy.

Its long overdue he have to fight tough, lower ranked guys with impressive records.

Not capable? He hurt Olives, Poirer and Gaethje badly lmao

 

[potatoReloaded]

Don't root for him, then.

 

[kingmob6]

Chandler blows his steam, then he turns into a Pinada for anyone with a pulse. Great entertainment, but you dont' bet money on him.

Conor vs him would definitely be a good one.

 

[FIghtxIQ]

Can't be as reckless against the top 5 fighters and expect to come out winning. It has solidified him as a incredible prize fighter, much like Conor was. A quote remarkable UFC career but average at the same time!

You can be exciting and fight smart as well. It doesn't have to be one or the other. It's called technical brawling. You fight at the high pace/intensity and fight on the inside where most people just brawl, but you keep it technical and still fight smart in those moments. Most just brawl instinctively in those moments and aren't really fighting smart or technical. That's really the difference.

Fighters have to stop thinking you have to fight reckless or dumb to be exciting. That's their excuses for not having exciting fights, they want to say they are fighting smart or technical instead of having mindless brawls. If you were really fighting smart, you would know how to have exciting smart fights as well.

 

[Limeade]

I'm a fan and yes it is frustrating. You think he has no plan and fights on instinct or throws it out the window during the fight?

 

[NoBiasJustMMA]

His cardio is fine, the issue is he fights like an idiot and tries to get a finish with every strike. If he didn't give up top position in round 3 of the Dustin fight to go for a submission instead of maintaining top control and just GnP and try submissions that you don't have to give up position to get he would have won. His fight IQ has been terrible ever since he started working with Henry Hooft.

 

[VAfan]

he's pretty much a classic 'just bleed' guy. which is obviously entertaining, but he isn't doing his career any favors.

 

[rjmbrd]

Not capable? He hurt Olives, Poirer and Gaethje badly lmao

And got wrecked in all of those fights. Not only did he get whooped, but he left looking mutilated.

Point in case, the reason he makes it look competitive at all is he fights with reckless abandon out of the gate. We don't have to guess if it works, it has not. He has a losing 2-3 record in the UFC. The two guys he beat were a journeyman in Hooker (with a journeyman's record) and Tony's FOURTH consecutive loss. Tony is not a UFC caliber fighter and did not belong in there.

We can continue to watch Chandler get smashed a few more fights, but he has not earned his ranking and should have to fight rising opponents to maintain a ranking. Getting beat up by ranked fighters doesn't mean you are one of them.

 

[Th3Sav4ge]

hes not exactly fresh. he has a careers worth of fights before he came to the ufc

 

[Kb7]

hes not exactly fresh. he has a careers worth of fights before he came to the ufc

I agree with you, but he's also not fighting young up and comers also aside from Hooker who he beat. Here's a shocker he has less fights than all his opponents besides Gaethje & they all about started the careers around the same time. Chandler a little overrated but he sure is fun to watch.