Michael Chandler fights to regain his Bellator lightweight championship on June 24 in front of his hometown fans in St. Louis, MO. Chandler will face Brazilian contender Patricky Freire at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis as part of Bellator 157 on SpikeTV at 8/7pm Central.

I am prepared to lose. I am prepared for the pain and anguish that go along with falling short. I am prepared to look back and have regrets. But I have never been more confident that I am going to win. I have never been more ready to be locked into a cage with another man in front of tens of thousands in an arena and millions watching on Spike TV. But in order to seize the glory and accomplishment what I desire, I must dare greatly. Only by accepting the possibility of failure can I truly give myself permission to let go and fight my fight.

In order to finish this work I started years ago, I must chance the negative possibilities and embrace the uncertainty of the situation. Most of us are battling the same battle in one way or another. Some of us refuse to put ourselves out there because we’re afraid others will make fun. Some of us are so afraid of failure that the paralysis of constant analysis stops us in our tracks and caps our potential. But is it not more admirable to dare and fail than never to have dared at all? Is it not an accomplishment in itself to charge headfirst into challenges even though you might fail? Is the person who has been a lifelong sideline spectator not marred by the regret of knowing neither accomplishment nor failure because he refuses to dare?

What is it you’re afraid of? When I approach a fight, there is a lot on the line. My health, my record, my bank account, my family’s future, my ego, and much more could be at stake to some degree…yet I fight anyway. I don’t ask this to gloat, but why is it that I am willing to risk public humiliation and possible bodily harm? I’ll tell you why: because my life isn’t defined by wins and losses!

Win or lose, great performance or horrible one, my God still loves me. My family still loves me. And I still love myself. Isn’t this what it all boils down to? When you strip life down to the nuts and bolts, if you have those three things, what do you have to lose? With this perspective, the fear of losing pales in comparison to the freedom of enjoying the opportunity to pursue things you never thought possible. Liberation from the pressure of believing that losing is the end of the world produces the best version of you.

Can I say I am fearless going into a fight? Absolutely not… but I sure am excited. Because win or lose, my God still loves me. My family still loves me. And I still love myself.

To Your Success,
Michael Chandler