UFC lightweight Michael Chandler’s latest fight, against Dustin Poirier, was a bloody, vicious affair. Poirier accused Chandler of cheating throughout the fight, including an accusation that Chandler shoved his fingers in Poirier’s mouth. Poirier later admitted that he bit Chandler’s fingers, to which “Iron Mike” responded “I would have done the exact same thing”.
“He did bite my finger, which isn’t cheating, because my finger shouldn’t have been in his mouth. I think that’s when I realized, ‘OK, that’s not the chin,’ because he’s biting down on my hand, and obviously, that’s when I let go.
Chandler on Finger Bite Controversy: “I would have done the exact same thing’
It’s somewhat funny. I would never call it funny or downplay it, but it is just like, when you think of the stuff we go through as mixed martial artists, and even him being down there, I would have done the exact same thing, whether I thought his hand was in my mouth or not.”
Chandler, a veteran of the sport, explained how his fingers wound up in Poirier’s mouth in the first place. “When I take a guy’s back, and I’ve drilled it a million times, I take a guy’s back, reach down, grab the chin, lift the chin, and then go for the choke.
“So yes, do I think I need to apologize? I don’t think I do. Do I think it was something that people could say, ‘Hey, that was dirty,’ or ‘that was illegal,’ yes, I could definitely see what you’re saying. But 31 fights, you know my reputation. I’ve got a good reputation in this sport. I love the sport. I don’t cheat the sport. I don’t cheat to win.
This one was just unfortunate circumstances and a chain of events that I wish didn’t happen, but they did, and also, that’s why we have referees there. That’s why the referee was there with his eyeballs on every single exchange to let you know if you’re doing something consciously or subconsciously, on purpose or not on purpose.
But yeah, it doesn’t feel good [to be called a dirty fighter]. I don’t like to hear that, because, whatever, there are going to be people that say things no matter what, be accused of things win, lose or draw.
But I love this sport, and I would never cheat. It is what it is and I can’t change it, aside from I’ve been here 31 fights and I love the sport and I would never cheat intentionally.”
Do you think Chandler cheated? Let us know in the comments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkwcFtAMMvw
