Michael Chandler explains his transition into becoming the 'Arturo Gatti of MMA': "I'm fighting the toughest guys on the planet right now"
Michael Chandler has built a name for himself as one of the most entertaining fighters on the UFC roster within a short span of time. Right from the brutal KO of Dan Hooker in his UFC debut to his recent loss to Dustin Poirier in an instant classic, 'Iron' has never had a boring moment inside the octagon.
Ariel Helwani recently asked the former Bellator champion about his transition into, in Dana White's words, the 'Arturo Gatti of MMA'. According to Chandler, his fighting style was very similar even during his time in Bellator.
White compares Michael Chandler to Arturo Gatti, that he leaves it all in the octagon and is fun to watch.
'Iron' believes that the difference in the entertainment quotient came due to an increase in the level of competition. The 36-year-old said on The MMA Hour:
"To be honest... I think I do fight very similarly that I always have. Same speed, same tenacity, same beatdown and then comeback and fights, it happens. It just wasn't on the biggest stage possible."
He added:
"I think I've definitely stepped up in competition. I think those UFC gloves are hard, not that the Bellator gloves weren't. But you know, you're fighting the best guys in the world... And I honestly think I've always fought that way. I just think I'm fighting the toughest guys on the planet right now."
Catch Michael Chandler's comments below (2:00):
Former Canadian-Italian boxer Gatti, known for his relentless violence, competed from 1991 to 2007, holding two world titles.
Michael Chandler explains his fighting style
Michael Chandler's explosiveness and pressure are the primary reasons for his ability to deliver on the entertainment quotient. Chandler never appears to take his foot off the gas, forcing his opponents to come out of their comfort zones and engage in wild scraps.
According to 'Iron', pressure is as important a weapon in MMA as strikes or takedowns. The 36-year-old told ESPN's Brett Okamoto:
"Just like punches, kicks, knees, elbows, submissions, and grappling are techniques in the sport of mixed martial arts; so is pressure, so is presence, so is pressing a guy and playing to his spirit and trying to break his spirit."
Catch Michael Chandler's comments below (9:50):