Michael Chandler is set to return against Mauricio Ruffy on June 14 at UFC Freedom 250, targeting a rebound after a difficult stretch inside the Octagon.
Chandler, 23-10 in MMA and 2-5 in the UFC, steps into the matchup on a three-fight skid and just after turning 40. He meets Ruffy, who holds a 13-2 MMA record and a 4-1 UFC mark, at an event staged at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Reflecting on his recent loss to Paddy Pimblett, Chandler said, "Everything changes with time and circumstance. I think after the Paddy fight, which I am very, very disappointed in my performance, very disappointed in how I competed, disappointed in the way that that fight went, I needed some time to lick my wounds. I needed some time to recalibrate, put some things on paper, really define myself. Who am I? How do I fight? And what do I bring to the table as an athlete? And I had an ample amount of time to reassess. I think if anything, I'm a better man for it. I'm more mature. I was able to accept it and now move on. I'm in a much better place than I was."
Chandler pointed to the long, ultimately aborted build toward a Conor McGregor fight and a subsequent loss to Charles Oliveira at Madison Square Garden as part of a taxing run, but he insists his preparation and mindset are now in order for Ruffy.
"You look at my last performance, you have every right to believe that I have fallen off," Chandler said, before adding, "With that being said, I believe I will prove all those people wrong, and I'm excited to do it here in just a little over a week's time."
