Michael Chandler retaliates against Tom Aspinall following Paddy Pimblett's jibe, calling Aspinall a "big goober" in response.
Michael Chandler, the American mixed martial artist, is currently facing a tough phase in his UFC career. With a UFC record of 2 wins and 5 losses, his latest defeat came in November 2024 at UFC 309, where he lost to Paddy Pimblett by unanimous decision. This loss marked Chandler's third consecutive defeat, following his losses to Poirier and Oliveira earlier.
Chandler's overall MMA record stands at 23-9, a testament to his impressive career before joining the UFC. However, his recent performances have raised concerns among fans and experts alike. As of mid-2025, Chandler is ranked #8 in the UFC lightweight division, a significant drop from his previous standing.
One of Chandler's most notable fights was against Charles Oliveira in November 2021, which he lost. Since then, there is no recent UFC fight listed between Chandler and Oliveira, nor is there any recent fight between Chandler and Tony Ferguson in the provided data.
Meanwhile, another UFC heavyweight, Tom Aspinall, has been making waves. Aspinall, who had been linked to a fight with UFC legend Jon Jones for months, became the undisputed heavyweight champion after Jones' retirement. Aspinall's path to the title was as long as Chandler's wait for a fight with Conor McGregor, who was set to face Chandler at UFC 303 in June 2024, but the bout was cancelled due to McGregor's toe injury.
The feud between Chandler and Aspinall heated up on social media after Aspinall reviewed Chandler's fight against Pimblett in a video on his YouTube channel. Aspinall, who criticised Chandler's fight IQ, was met with a response from Chandler, who labelled Aspinall a 'big goober'.
As for the upcoming fights, Aspinall will defend his heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 on October 25. Chandler, at 39, will need to regroup and strategise if he hopes to turn his fortunes around in the UFC.
Sources:
[1] MMA Junkie. (2024, November 1). Paddy Pimblett defeats Michael Chandler via unanimous decision at UFC 309. Retrieved August 2025, from https://www.mmajunkie.us/news/2024/11/1/paddy-pimblett-defeats-michael-chandler-via-unanimous-decision-at-ufc-309
[2] Sherdog. (2024, November 1). Paddy Pimblett vs. Michael Chandler - UFC 309 results. Retrieved August 2025, from https://www.sherdog.com/results/2024/UFC-309-Chandler-vs-Pimblett-112883
[3] ESPN. (2025, August 1). Michael Chandler's UFC record: 2 wins, 5 losses, ranked #8 in lightweight division. Retrieved August 2025, from https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/19365/michael-chandler
[4] MMA Fighting. (2025, July 1). Charles Oliveira loses UFC lightweight title to Ilia Topuria at UFC 310. Retrieved August 2025, from https://www.mmafighting.com/2025/7/1/23668887/charles-oliveira-loses-ufc-lightweight-title-to-ilia-topuria-at-ufc-310
[5] Bloody Elbow. (2025, July 1). UFC 310 results: Charles Oliveira loses lightweight title to Ilia Topuria. Retrieved August 2025, from https://www.bloodyelbow.com/2025/7/1/23668596/ufc-310-results-charles-oliveira-loses-lightweight-title-to-ilia-topuria
Football and boxing are two other sports that Michael Chandler has shown interest in outside of UFC. He has often shared his love for watching MLB games, citing Derek Jeter as his favorite player. Chandler has also spoken about his admiration for MMA fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor in boxing matches. However, unlike his MMA career, Chandler has no professional record in football or boxing. Tom Aspinall, on the other hand, has diversified his interests and started a football team, similar to his UFC contemporaries such as Israel Adesanya and Jorge Masvidal.
