Fighter of the Month: January 2013 – Michael Chandler

Fighter of the Month: January 2013 – Michael Chandler

By Christopher ‘sLapDatSuCKa’ Jester

 

 

 

 

Fighter of the Month: Michael Chandler

Event: Bellator 85 (January 17, 2013)

Opponent: Rick Hawn

Result: Submission – Rear-Naked Choke (3:07 of Round 2)

 

 

Michael Chandler had previously shocked the world in his Fight of the Year performance against Eddie Alvarez back at Bellator 58 in 2011 that helped him capture the Bellator Lightweight Championship, but it was this performance against Rick Hawn that made him THE lightweight to watch.

 

In what was Spike TV’s first Bellator event, Michael Chandler put his title on the line against Season 6 Lightweight Tournament winner Rick Hawn. Scheduled to go five rounds in this title fight, Michael Chandler made sure this fight didn’t go the allotted rounds it was intended to be with a performance that made everyone engrave the name Michael Chandler into their minds. Outside of his fight against Eddie Alvarez, Chandler put on a show that legitimized his place in the lightweight rankings.

 

Right out of the gate, Michael Chandler pumped the jab until he was comfortable enough at the distance to take Rick Hawn down with his superior wrestling. For the majority of the first round, Chandler controlled the fight from top-control. In the second round, it began with more of the same, until Chandler delivered Hawn to the mat with a massive slam. Chandler continued to bully his opponent with punches and elbows. Even with Hawn attempting to get back to his feet, Chandler slammed his opponent back to the mat and astonishingly switched to a rear-naked choke.  In a tight and inescapable submission, Rick Hawn had no choice but to tap, giving Michael Chandler his first title defense and a dominating performance on Spike TV that will without a doubt help move his stock up.

 

For that reason, PunchDrunkGamer would be honored to reward Michael Chandler our January Fighter of the Month accolade. We wish you luck in your career and in all of your endeavors. Keep it up, champ!

 

 

Runner-Ups:

 

1. Anthony Pettis (UFC on FOX – January 26, 2013) – For months Anthony Pettis and Donald Cerrone entered into a tirade of trash-talk between one another. Except, it was Pettis who backed it up on the 26th. Anthony Pettis put on a clinic of technical strikes. Even after no one thought the Showtime Kick could be surpassed, Anthony Pettis introduced a Showtime Knee that helped demonstrate just how comfortable Pettis was in controlling the fight. Pettis literally picked apart Cerrone the entire fight, leading up to a Pettis leg kick to Cerrone’s liver that stopped “The Cowboy” and earned Pettis the victory.

 

2. Demetrious Johnson (UFC on FOX – January 26 2013) – Demetrious Johnson had a hard outing against John Dodson in a match that showed two of the fastest Flyweights in the world trade blows. This was one of those situations where Johnson’s experience, pace, and cardio helped him in the later championship rounds. Johnson clearly lost the opening rounds of the fight after being dropped on multiple occasions by punches from John Dodson. Despite receiving a flagrant low-blow, John Dodson’s cardio could not match the pace output from the champion. Demetrious Johnson showed the mettle of a champion with his comeback in the last two rounds with great takedowns and clinch work against the cage. The Thai clinch from Johnson helped him seal an unanimous decision victory in his first Flyweight title defense.

 

3. Vitor Belfort (UFC on FX 7 – January 14, 2013) – Vitor Belfort is still one dangerous man. Despite a failed attempt at capturing the belt at Light-Heavyweight, Belfort returned to middleweight and showed why he should remain in this division. He is quicker and his strikes have more pop to them. But what helped in his victory over perennial contender Michael Bisping, was a more relaxed and comfortable stride. The battle did not turn until the end of the first round when Belfort clipped Bisping and attempted to finish with a heavy barrage. However, it only took Belfort two minutes and 37 seconds of the second round to finish the Brit with a headkick and follow-up punches. With this victory, it stopped Bisping from receiving a title shot against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and showed that Belfort is still relevant in this division.

 

4. Joanne Calderwood (Invicta FC 4 – January 4, 2013) – Joanne Calderwood versus Livia von Plettenberg was either a terrible mismatch or it was simply an amazing performance by Joanne Calderwood. This one-sided beating was one brutal female matchup that emanated from Invicta FC 4, where Calderwood’s Muay Thai would appear to be too much for Plettenberg for the entirety of the fight. Whether it was leg licks or high kicks, Calderwood never slacked on her advance on the outclassed Plettenberg. It was a highlight reel performance for the Scot, and this masterpiece performance lead to an unanimous decision victory that everyone saw coming.

 

 

Notable Mentions: Ricardo Lamas moved himself closer to Featherweight title contention with a TKO victory over Erik Koch, and Glover Teixeira closed the door to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s UFC career with an unanimous decision victory at UFC On FOX. Douglas Lima leg-kicked Michail Tsarev to a TKO stoppage at Bellator 86.

 

 

Follow Christopher “sLapDatSuCKa” Jester on Twitter @sLapDatSuCka

 

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