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Bellator champ Michael Chandler: Josh Thomson will get retired if he fights me

After successfully defending his lightweight title against Benson Henderson at this past weekend’s Bellator 165 event, Michael Chandler’s confidence is booming.

Chandler  (16-3 MMA, 13-3 BMMA) beat Henderson (24-7 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) by split decision in a closely contested fight in the featured bout of the event, which took place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., and streamed on Spike.

When the decision was read, many fans in the arena were unhappy with Chandler getting the nod. He didn’t take well to the boos from the crowd in the moment, but apologized during his post-fight interview. After rewatching the bout, Chandler retracted his apology in a video on Instagram.

Chandler explained the situation on a recent appearance on MMAjunkie Radio.

“I’ve got to take it upon myself to not let the emotions get to me,” Chandler said. “I said it at the press conference, I’m the type of guy who likes to take care of people, protect people and please people. So when I hear boos, immediately I think it’s because they didn’t like my performance. I am way too hard on myself. I am my biggest critic. There were things in that fight I wish I’d done better. I think, after going back and watching it, I could see how someone could see the fight going 3-2. I looked at it and thought I won rounds one through four, obviously the first round very dominantly. I left each round looking good. I’m happy with my performance and excited to keep on getting better.”

Henderson spent much of the peak of his career edging out decisions over the best fighters in the world. That made Chandler all the more proud of the effort he gave in beating the former UFC lightweight champ over a five-round fight.

On the flip side, it also made the San Jose crowd’s reaction all the more objectionable to the champ.

“You guys have watched Benson Henderson just as much as I have,” Chandler said. “He is probably one of the hardest guys in the entire world to win a decision against, let alone win a dominant decision against. He keeps coming, his cardio is there, he paces himself really well. As you could see, I left no energy for the swim back to the boat, I left it all out there. He was jumping around, licking his gloves, acting like a crazy person and yelling. If he would have used a little more of that energy, maybe he could have squeaked out a couple more rounds. I’m happy with my performance. Forget you people who booed. San Jose crowd, I thought you were a little more educated than that.”

Next up for Chandler is a bout with Josh Thomson (22-8 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) at an event to be decided. The bout is taking on a bit of a personal flavor with an increase in trash talk, as well as a bit of gamesmanship on the date and location of the fight.

One thing is for sure, Chandler said: Thomson is not getting the fight in front of his hometown fans in San Jose.

“Josh Thomson is talking about February,” Chandler said. “I’m like, ‘Why is he talking about fighting me in February?’ It’s because he wants to fight in San Jose. Forget you, Josh Thomson. You had your opportunity and fricking sissied out, pulled out of the fight, made me be away from my wife again for another eight weeks because you wanted to sit around and twiddle your thumbs and be afraid to fight me. Now he’s running his mouth. Man, the guy is going to get his block knocked off and he will get retired if he fights me. He’s so afraid of my right hand.

“… The dude is going to get crushed. It’s not going to be in February and it’s not going to be in San Jose, because I said so.”

For more on Bellator 165, check out the MMA Events section of MMAjunkie.

MMAjunkie Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) live from Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show, available on SiriusXM Ch. 93, is hosted by “Gorgeous” George Garcia and producer Brian “Goze” Garcia. For more information or to download past episodes, go to http://www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

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