Bellator 243 pre-event facts: The many records of Michael Chandler
Check out all the facts and figures about Bellator 243, which takes place Friday with a Michael Chandler vs. Benson Henderson main event.
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Bellator puts on its second event since returning from a coronavirus-induced hiatus on Friday with Bellator 243, which takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. The card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN.
A high-stakes lightweight rematch goes down in the main event. After former multi-time Bellator champ Michael Chandler (20-5 MMA, 17-5 BMMA) won the first fight by split decision in November 2016, Benson Henderson (28-8 MMA, 5-3 BMMA) will get a shot at redemption as he attempts to continue his best winning streak in years.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card, check below for 30 pre-event facts about Bellator 243.
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Main event
Michael Chandler
Chandler competes in his 23rd Bellator bout, tied with David Rickels for the most appearances in company history.
Chandler has earned 15 of his 20 career victories by stoppage. That includes 12 of his 17 Bellator wins.
Chandler’s 17 victories in Bellator competition are second most in company history behind Patricio Freire (18).
Chandler’s 14 victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied with Patricky Freire for most in divisional history.
Chandler’s 12 stoppage victories in Bellator competition are most in company history.
Chandler’s nine stoppage victories in Bellator lightweight competition are tied with Patricky Freire for most in divisional history.
Chandler’s six submission victories in Bellator competition are tied for second most in company history behind Goiti Yamauchi (eight).
Chandler’s 11 appearances in Bellator title fights are most in company history.
Chandler is one of three fighters in Bellator/UFC/WEC/PRIDE/Strikeforce history with three title reigns in a single weight class. Randy Couture and Douglas Lima also accomplished the feat.
Chandler’s six victories in Bellator championship fights are second most in company history behind Freire (eight).
Chandler’s five losses in Bellator title fights are the most in company history.
Benson Henderson
Henderson is a former UFC and WEC lightweight champion. He’s 0-2 in Bellator title fights.
Henderson is 5-2 since he returned to the lightweight division in August 2016.
Henderson’s four-fight Bellator winning streak in lightweight competition is the second longest active streak in the division behind Patricky Freire (five).
Henderson’s four-fight MMA winning streak is his longest since 2011.
Co-main event
Matt Mitrione
Matt Mitrione (13-7 MMA, 4-2 BMMA), 42, is the oldest of the eight scheduled main-card fighters.
Mitrione’s three-fight winless skid is the longest of his career. He hasn’t earned a victory since February 2018.
Mitrione vs. Kharitonov marked the third shortest no-contest in Bellator/UFC/WEC/Strikeforce/PRIDE combined history at just 15 seconds. Only Marius Zaromskis vs. Waachim Spiritwolf (6 seconds) at Strikeforce Challengers 12 and Kevin Casey vs. Antonio Carlos Junior (11 seconds) at UFC Fight Night 80 were faster.
All of Mitrione’s career bouts have taken place under the Bellator or UFC banners.
Timothy Johnson (13-6 MMA, 1-2 BMMA) has earned 10 of his 13 career victories by stoppage.
Remaining main card
Myles Jury
Myles Jury (18-5 MMA, 1-1 BMMA) is 1-1 since he returned to the lightweight division in September.
Georgi Karakhanyan (29-10-1 MMA, 7-8 BMMA) was successful in his Bellator lightweight debut at Bellator 240 in February.
Karakhanyan is 1-2 since he returned to Bellator for a third stint in March 2019.
Curtis Millender (18-5 MMA, 3-2 BMMA) was successful in his return to Bellator for a third stint with a win at Bellator 238 in January.