Michael Chandler says he is “hard to kill” and vowed to bounce back following his first-round knockout loss to Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Freedom 250, his fourth defeat under the UFC banner.
Chandler posted a lengthy video on social media delivering an upbeat response to the setback.
Obviously, the fight did not go my way, but I’m in good spirits. I’m happy. I’m healthy. I’m hard to kill. I’m impossible to kill. I’m impossible to defeat because I am so truly blessed. Physically, I’m good. I’m a little banged up. I got punched in the ear and ripped it open. Hats off to Mauricio Ruffy. He was a tough puzzle to solve. He’s long, he’s fast, he’s accurate, he’s a good striker. He landed the shots that ended the fight.
He addressed the broader nature of responding to adversity in his career.
You have these moments in life where everyone’s watching how you respond and I promise you, just as I always have, I will continue to respond like a champion. It’s time to get back on the horse. Typical Chandler fashion. All we do is move forward. In the face of adversity, we move forward.
Chandler is now 2-6 in the UFC following losses to Paddy Pimblett, Charles Oliveira, and Dustin Poirier in recent years. He did not mention retirement.