Michael Chandler just dropped the sickest edit. And a no-fluff training sermon. The UFC fighter is known for his explosive wrestling and a fight record that has been forged in fire. Now, he has pulled the blinds on what it takes to get to that level.

The UFC lightweight posted a video montage of his gym workouts on Instagram on July 14, with a single word embossed over it: "Consistency." Yes—the secret of one of the world's greatest fighters, summarized in one easy word.

The reel showed the fighter doing deadlifts, pull-ups, plyometrics, and even training with an oxygen mask for cardio, underscoring his dedication to the craft. Yet, all of that becomes useless without persistence.

As Chandler wrote below the Instagram post, "Hours, no, days, no, weeks, no, months, no years, no, decades, no, a whole life committed to breaking down barriers and building a human." He concluded the video with a simple yet inspiring message: "See you at the top!"

And that is precisely what took 'Iron' from Bellator Championship to the sport's most iconic stage, the UFC roster.

Michael Chandler's rigorous MMA training

Michael Chandler usually trains 2-3 times a day, 5 times a week. On top of traditional mitt work and sparring sessions, the American fighter hits the accelerator on his gym and strength sessions as well.

The 40-year-old trains with Jeremy Holt, an NFL strength coach, helping with a well-rounded approach to both power and speed.

"I want to be explosive and fast and all of the different attributes that all the other sports require, too," he shared in an interview with Men's Journal on behalf of Phorm Energy.

Morning sessions are focused on sparring, wrestling, and BJJ, while evenings are for intentional work with coaches or strength and conditioning.

The 'Iron' also gets two full-body strength sessions each week, which he utilizes to the fullest. "We always want to focus on creating the most explosive, dangerous guy that can show up in the octagon that night," quipped Chandler.

That means power, speed, technique—Chandler has to fire on all cylinders. This often translates to contrast training inside the gym, which means a heavy lift coupled with an explosive movement. It can look like squats with box jumps or bench presses with med ball slams.

Although Michael Chandler's recent streak has been disappointing, a battle-tested record is much better than a padded one. So, what are your views on the UFC fighter's training schedule? Is it reasonable, or does it feel over-the-top? Comment below.

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Written by

Proma Chatterjee

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil