Bellator 192 results: Michael Chandler dominates Goiti Yamauchi, ties record for most Bellator wins

INGLEWOOD, Calif. – Michael Chandler tied Patricio Freire for the most victories in Bellator history on Saturday with a one-sided performance at Bellator 192.

After losing the lightweight title to Brent Primus at Bellator NYC in June, Chandler (17-4 MMA, 14-4 BMMA) returned to the cage and put on a dominant performance against Goiti Yamauchi (22-4 MMA, 8-3 BMMA) for a unanimous decision victory and his record-tying 14th Bellator win.

The bout lightweight fight was part today’s Bellator 192 main card. It took place at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif., and aired on Paramount following prelims on MMAjunkie.

The opening round wasn’t particularly exciting, but it went Chandler’s way. He took the fight to the ground and kept pressure on Yamauchi, who was unable to create space for his dangerous submissions.

Chandler somewhat veered from his risk-averse strategy in the second round, and he nearly paid for it. Yamauchi blindsided him with a question mark kick that caused the former champion to stumble. Chandler regained his wits, though, and immediately took Yamauchi back to the ground.

With his path to victory clearly established, Chandler took Yamauchi back to the ground not long into the third round. Yamauchi attempted to isolate limps for a submission or scramble into freedom, but Chandler wasn’t letting him out of his grip.

Chandler turned up the volume on his offense in a big way in the final 90 seconds of the third round, opening a cut on Yamauchi and nearly finishing the fight. He couldn’t get the stoppage, but the 30-26, 30-26, 30-25 scorecards reflected his dominance.

“Hat’s off to Yamauchi, probably the toughest guy I’ve ever fought,” Chandler said in his post-fight interview.

Afterward, Chandler addressed the possibility of a rematch.

“That’s not what I want,” Chandler said. “If that’s what Scott (Coker) wants, I’ll do it because I’m a company man.”

Up-to-the-minute Bellator 192 results include:

• Aaron Pico scores 37-second knockout with body shot
• Henry Corrales decisions Georgi Karakhanyan in first bout in Paramount history

For more on Bellator 192 check out the MMA Events section of the site.

(John Morgan contributed to this report on-site in Inglewood.)