Former Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler is officially UFC bound.
The UFC President confirmed the signing of the veteran on ESPN’s SportsCenter On Thursday. Following his impressive knockout win over Benson Henderson at Bellator 243, the 34-year-old became a free agent after his ten-year stint with Bellator MMA.
White has previously shown interest in adding the former Bellator Lightweight Champion to his stacked roster and the UFC President clearly has high hopes for the UFC newcomer as he confirmed that Chandler will serve as a replacement for the UFC Lightweight title fight between Khabib Nurmagomedov or challenger Justin Gaethje at UFC 254.
Chandler has been fighting professionally since 2009 and he's beaten top names such as former UFC Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez, KOTC Light Welterweight Champion Derek Campos, Patricky Freire, and former UFC Lightweight Champion Benson Henderson on two separate occasions. Chandler is a former three-time Lightweight Champion, with his overall stats currently standing at 21 wins and 5 losses.
Reportedly, Dustin Poirier was actually offered to fight Chandler at UFC 254, but according ESPN’s Ariel Helwani, the top lightweight turned down the fight for financial reasons and Poirier also wanted to show some loyalty to Tony Ferguson, who publicly back “The Diamond” once negotiations failed between Dustin and UFC officials.