Image via Sportsnet.CA
Bellator was featured on Spike tonight for the first time, and they delivered a sensational card filled with some emphatic finishes. Headlining the card was Michael Chandler defending his lightweight belt against Rick Hawn. Coming into this fight, Chandler was coming off an impressive submission win over Eddie Alvarez, and Chandler would do the same against the always-dangerous Hawn.
In the first round, Michael Chandler shot in and secured a take down rather easily. From there, Chandler would pepper Hawn with some good shots for the majority of the rest of the round. The second round started off much like the same. Then, Chandler took Hawn’s back, and sank in a rear-naked choke. Hawn was forced to tap, and Chandler remains Bellator’s lightweight champion.
It was a sterling performance from Chandler, and he certainly is one of the best lightweights in the world right now. It will be interesting to see who Bellator matches Chandler up with, since Eddie Alvarez is no longer under the Bellator banner. Regardless of who Chandler faces, he is a powerhouse. His skills seem to only be getting better, and he displayed an excellent grappling tonight for his lightweight title fight.
If Chandler can keep up his winning ways, he will more than likely want to head to the UFC. He can see how the Alvarez situation turned out and learn from his mistakes. For now, Bellator is Chandler’s home and it will be a treat to see him keep improving his skills as a fighter.
