Two of Bellator’s very best will go head to head in the main event of Bellator 243 on Aug. 7 and, just one week from fight night, Michael Chandler and Benson Henderson are all fired up and ready to go. Three-time former Bellator lightweight champion Chandler (20-5 MMA, 17-5 BMMA) and former Bellator and UFC lightweight champ Henderson (28-8 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) are set to meet in an eagerly-anticipated rematch at the Mohegan Sun Arena next Friday night, and the pair checked in with play-by-play commentator Mike Goldberg to build the anticipation ahead of their pivotal lightweight fight. The duo faced off at Bellator 165 in November 2016, when Chandler defeated Henderson via split decision to defend the promotion’s 155-pound strap in San Jose. As the result suggests, it was a super-close encounter, and now Henderson has the opportunity to avenge that defeat and put himself in pole position to challenge for the lightweight belt currently held by Brazil’s Patricio Freire. Related Benson Henderson looking to put Michael Chandler away: His chin is not the same Michael Chandler: Benson Henderson not most talented fighter, but he's hard to beat Bellator 237 free fight: Michael Chandler edges Benson Henderson in lightweight title defense Chandler, meanwhile, plans on claiming a second successive victory over “Smooth” to position himself for a rematch with Freire, who stopped him in May last year to win the lightweight title.
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Video: Michael Chandler, Benson Henderson sound off ahead of Bellator 243 rematch – MMA Junkie