Nov 16, 2024; New York, NY, USA; Charles Oliveira (red gloves) fights Michael Chandler (blue gloves) in the lightweight bout during UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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Michael Chandler Gives His Take On Cheating Allegations Ahead Of UFC 314 Fight

Michael Chandler pushes back at the allegations of him being a dirty fighter ahead of the UFC 314 co-main event!

The UFC lightweight division has never lacked drama or controversy. Fighters throw accusations at each other like jabs in the octagon. Some stick, others miss their mark. Former Bellator champion Michael Chandler finds himself dodging verbal punches these days as allegations of dirty fighting follow him into his next bout.

Chandler joined the UFC with massive expectations. Fans hoped for a fresh contender to shake up the division. ‘Iron’ delivered with a spectacular knockout over Dan Hooker in his debut. But his recent fights have brought unwanted attention. Dustin Poirier accused him of fish-hooking and grabbing the inside of his gloves. Charles Oliveira pointed to fouls in their rematch. Now Chandler wants to set the record straight before facing Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314.

Also Read: “One Foot On His Throat” – Michael Chandler Has A Violently Threatening Message For Next Opponent!

Michael Chandler Defends His Fighting Style

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chandler addressed the cheating allegations head-on. The lightweight contender seemed genuinely bothered by the accusations. He described himself as someone who “treats people right.” For a fighter who prides himself on honor, these allegations clearly sting more than some punches he has taken.

“You’re always going to have those accusations, right? But I know who I am at my core. I’m a guy who tries to do things right, tries to treat people right, [and] tries to do things with honor and respect. So, the cheating accusations are a little tough on me. In the last fight, Charles Oliveira dug his chin so deep into my eye socket that I thought I was going to go blind. It is illegal… [But] these things happen when you’re inside the cage. I would never say Charles Oliveira is a cheater.”

Michael Chandler addresses cheating accusations ahead of #UFC314 fight with Paddy Pimblett:

"I’m a guy who tries to do things right, tries to treat people right, do things with honor and respect. So the cheating narrative is a little tough for me."

(🎥 @mikeHeck_JR) pic.twitter.com/Nf47Wist4n
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) April 6, 2025

Michael Chandler didn’t just defend himself, he offered perspective on fouls in MMA. He pointed out that many infractions happen in the heat of battle without intent. However, fighters like Dustin Poirier would disagree. They believe that Chandler resorts to dirty tactics in the octagon every time.

For a fighter who once seemed destined for UFC gold after jumping ship from Bellator, Chandler now finds himself fighting on two fronts. He must defeat Pimblett in the octagon while also winning the battle for his reputation outside it. The pressure couldn’t be higher as he approaches what might be his final chance to climb back into title contention at UFC 314.

(Image Credit: Brad Penner – Imagn Images)

Michael Chandler

Paddy Pimblett

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!