MICHAEL CHANDLER's hopes of fighting Conor McGregor are seemingly finally over after a brutal loss to Paddy Pimblett.
The fan favourite suffered a second straight loss in the co-main event of UFC 314 in Miami early on Sunday morning.
The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion suffered a bloody fourth-round KO loss to the pride of Liverpool in front of a packed crowd at the Kaseya Center.
Victory over Chandler was the biggest of Pimblett's career and has catapulted him into lightweight title contention.
And Pimblett immediately sent a message to the lightweight division's elite after scoring the biggest win of his career.
Pimblett did a brilliant job of keeping Chandler at range with leg kicks early in the stanza.
In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, he roared: “Anyone else got any questions?”
And that forced Chandler t change tact and shoot for a big takedown, which he landed.
He was unable to keep Pimblett on his back and they eventually returned to the feet.
And he reminded Pimblett he wouldn't have things his own way with a big counter right hand.
Low calf kicks continued to be Pimblett;s weapon of choice early in the second and he chewed up Chandler's lead leg.
There was brief pause to the action midway through the round as Chandler accidentally landed a front kick to the gonads as Pimblett threw a kick of his own.
Chandler got a takedown after the restart and briefly took the back of the Liverpudlian.
But he was too high and ended up slipping off and landing on the canvas.
Pimblett didn't waste the opportunity to try to improve his position, transitioning and looking for several positions.
And seconds before the round ended, he bludgeoned Chandler with elbows while squeezing the air out of him with a body triangle.
Pimblett opened up a huge cut on Chandler with a huge counter flying knee seconds after the restarts.
The 30-year-old immediately went for the kill but wisely opted not to gas himself out and secure a takedown.
He then proceeded to rain down hellacious strikes on a hurt and bloodied Chandler.
And the referee was left with no choice but to wave off the contest and simultaneously confirm Pimblett as a legit title contender.
A fired-up Pimblett, who cost Conor McGregor £386k with his win over Chandler, said: “Anyone in the top four or top five.
“I want that world title.”
He added: “I want Dustin [Poirier],Justin, [Gaethje] Charles [Oliveira] or that little posh boy Arman [Tsarukyan].
