MICHAEL CHANDLER’S hopes of finally fighting Conor McGregor are seemingly over after a brutal loss to Paddy Pimblett.
The fan favourite suffered a third straight defeat in the co-main event of UFC 314 in Miami early on Sunday morning.
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The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion suffered a bloody fourth-round TKO loss to the pride of Liverpool in front of a packed crowd at the Kaseya Center.
Victory over Chandler was the biggest of Pimblett’s career and has catapulted him into lightweight title contention.
And he immediately sent a message to the division’s big dogs after silencing his detractors in front of President Donald Trump, who was octagonside with Elon Musk.
In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, he roared: “Anyone else got any questions?”
Pimblett did a brilliant job of keeping Chandler at range with leg kicks early in the first round.
And that forced Chandler to change tact and shoot for a big takedown, which he landed.
He was unable, however, to keep Pimblett on his back and they eventually returned to the feet.
And he reminded Pimblett he wouldn’t have things his own way with a big counter right hand.
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Low calf kicks continued to be Pimblett’s weapon of choice early in the second and he chewed up Chandler’s lead leg.
There was a brief pause to the action midway through the round as Chandler accidentally landed a front kick to the nether regions as Pimblett threw one of his own.
Chandler got a takedown after the restart and briefly took the back of the Liverpudlian.
But he was too high and ended up slipping off and landing on the canvas.
Pimblett didn’t waste the opportunity to try to improve his position, transitioning and looking for several submissions.
And seconds before the round ended, he bludgeoned Chandler with elbows while squeezing the air out of him with a body triangle.
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Pimblett opened up a huge cut on Chandler with a spectacular counter flying knee seconds after the restart.
The 30-year-old immediately went for the kill but wisely opted not to gas himself out and instead secured a takedown.
He then proceeded to rain down hellacious strikes on a hurt and bloodied Chandler after transitioning like a knife through hot butter.
And the referee was left with no choice but to wave off the contest and simultaneously confirm Pimblett as a legit contender at 155lbs.
A fired-up Pimblett, who cost Conor McGregor £386k with his win over Chandler, said: “Anyone in the top four or top five.
“I want that world title.”
He added: “I want Dustin [Poirier],Justin, [Gaethje] Charles [Oliveira] or that little posh boy Arman [Tsarukyan].”
Pimblett will likely now be on McGregor’s radar, despite not calling out the former two-weight world champion.
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McGregor, 36, revealed he was eyeing the winner of the bout earlier this week.
But he didn’t expect Pimblett to win, so much so he bet $500,000 on Chandler to win.
In a pre-bout video on Instagram, the Irishman said: “The fight I’m interested in is Michael Chandler vs Paddy Pimblett.
“And I’m going Michael Chandler to win, and win by KO.
“Though Paddy has improved in his last few outings, I still fancy Chandler to do it. Let’s go, boys.”
The future looks bleak for Chandler following his third-straight loss in a row.
And he was visibly upset after the stoppage, so much so that he immediately left the octagon.