EXCLUSIVE: Micheal Chandler Eyeing Welterweight Division

Michael Chandler is looking for big fights, and not just at lightweight.

Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler is defending his championship against Brent Primus this Saturday at Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva. It will be his second title defense since winning the vacant title last year. On Fightful MMA's podcast Holy Smokes, Chandler said he was confident he would be victorious over Primus and talked about what he could do next. 

"I've got my eyes on some welterweights to be honest. I want some big fights. I want the biggest fights I can possibly get. Of course, I'm one hundred percent focused on fighting Brent Primus, get it done with that fight, then maybe calling some welterweights out. I would, by no means, be a tiny welterweight. I would be maybe on the smaller side. At the end of the day, it's a fist fight and I train with welterweights all day long at the gym. I would love to get a big fights against some of those guys," said Chandler. 

Podcast co-host Sean Ross Sapp asked Chandler when he started thinking about Welterweight. Chandler said it is all about who's available to fight. 

"Since we started signing guys like Rory (Macdonald), Lorenz Larkin and Paul Daley. Michael Paige is getting promoted really well. He's had some big wins. I just look at guys, I don't care what weight they are. I look at the athlete and say 'Man, I'd like to fight that guy. He's got a name, he's got a brand, he's got a following.' That's really what you want to do. You want to fight the biggest names and the biggest fights in the sport," said Chandler. 

Out of the fighters Chandler named, only one is currently booked in a fight. Lorenz Larkin will also be on the Bellator fight card on Saturday. Fightful MMA will be providing live coverage of Bellator NYC: Sonnen vs. Silva and a recapping podcast. 

Holy Smokes airs weekly at FightfulPods.com.