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MICHAEL CHANDLER has at last addressed the allegations from his rivals who have branded him a “dirty” fighter.
The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion has been accused by fans and fellow competitors of deliberately violating the rules.
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Dustin Poirier accused Chandler of being a “dirty fighter” for fishing hooking him during their encounter at Madison Square Garden in November 2022.
Fans labeled him a “cheater” after he landed several illegal strikes to Charles Oliveira’s head during their UFC 309 match last November.
These claims have troubled the 38-year-old competitor, who told MMA Fighting: “Honestly, this narrative is hard to deal with.
“People don’t really know me. Unless you’re part of my close circle, you have no insight into who I truly am outside of [being] in front of the camera.
“Many harbor hidden doubts, thinking I act nicely on screen while being a ‘bad guy’ off-screen.
“Accusations will always exist, right?
“But I understand who I am at my core; I’m someone who strives to do things correctly, treats others with respect, and behaves honorably.
“Thus, being called a cheater is quite tough for me, but it’s simply part of the public court of opinion.”
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Chandler, who is gearing up for a return to the octagon early Sunday morning against Brit Paddy Pimblett, claims that his notable infractions were unintentional.
“Did I grab Dustin Poirier’s mouthpiece? Yes, I did, because I thought it was his chin,” he clarified. “I’ve already dealt with that incident. Accidents happen during a fight.
UFC star Michael Chandler showcases gruesome swelling on his legs with strange indents that don’t go away
“Will you reach out and grab the cage? Will your fingers get caught in the glove? Yes, those things happen in the heat of competition.
“In my last bout, Charles Oliveira pushed his chin so deeply into my eye socket that I feared I’d go blind, which is illegal. It’s technically an eye gouge, isn’t it?
“He was tugging on my gloves while trying to choke me. Such incidents occur inside the cage.
“I would never call Charles Oliveira a cheater. His body reacts instinctively, often beyond his conscious control.
“It’s all part of the fight or flight instinct. Things occur, making it a challenging narrative.”
Chandler’s actions in the cage are heavily on the mind of Pimblett as they prepare for their upcoming bout in Miami.
Pimblett is so wary that he plans to remind the referee during their rules meeting to keep an eye out for any misconduct.
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