Michael Chandler has addressed claims from rivals and fans that he is a “dirty” fighter.
The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion has faced accusations of deliberately bending the rules.
Dustin Poirier called Chandler a “dirty fighter” due to a fish hook incident in their November 2022 Madison Square Garden fight.
Fans also criticized him as a “cheater” for delivering illegal blows to Charles Oliveira`s head during their UFC 309 match last November.
Chandler, 38, expressed his frustration to MMA Fighting: “The narrative is tough.”
“People don’t really know me. Unless you`re close to me, you don’t know who I am outside of the public eye.”
“There are suspicions that I appear nice on camera but am a bad guy off-camera.”
“I know who I am at my core. I strive to do things right, treat people well, and act with honor and respect.”
“The cheating narrative is difficult, but it’s part of public opinion.”
Chandler, facing Brit Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314, insists his past fouls were not intentional.
“Did I grab Dustin Poirier’s mouthpiece? Yes, because I thought it was his chin,” he explained. “I`ve addressed it. Things happen in a fight.”
“Grabbing the cage or getting fingers in gloves can occur in the heat of a fight.”
“In the Oliveira fight, his chin dug into my eye socket so deep I thought I’d go blind, which is illegal. It’s an eye gouge.”
“He grabbed my gloves during a choke attempt. These things happen in the cage.”
“I’d never call Charles Oliveira a cheater. Bodies react instinctively in fight or flight situations.”
“It`s a tough narrative.”
Pimblett is mindful of Chandler`s cage conduct as they approach their Miami fight.
The Liverpudlian intends to remind the referee to watch for such incidents in their pre-fight rules meeting.
