· Undefeated Lightweights Michael Chandler And Lloyd Woodard Meet At Bellator 40

Press Release:

NEWKIRK, Okla. (April 9, 2011) — Michael Chandler (6-0) and his Bellator 40 opponent Lloyd "Cupcake" Woodard (11-0) have many similarities going into their semifinal fight on Saturday night LIVE on MTV2. Both fighters ended their Lightweight Tournament quarterfinal fights with authority at Bellator 36 – Chandler by first round arm triangle choke of Polish Prodigy Marcin Held and Woodard by second round TKO of the Greg Jackson trained Carey Vanier.  Both overcame adversity in their fights – Chandler in the form of a tight kneebar attempt by Held and Woodard in the form of relentless takedown attempts by Vanier. Both fighters maintained their undefeated records.

But after all is said and done on Saturday night one of these lightweights will walk away with their first professional defeat and one will walk into the Bellator Season 4 Lightweight Tournament finals. 

Former Division I All-American wrestler Michael Chandler, who has finished all six of his six professional fights, believes it will be him that walks away with the victory and his ticket to the finals. 

“I give Lloyd [Woodard] a lot of credits for stopping the takedown attempts from Carey Vanier, but I don't think he's going to be able to stop my Division I takedowns if that's what I decide to do,” said Chandler. “Against a guy like Lloyd Woodard, I feel like I'm literally going to have to go out there and tear his heart from his chest to beat him. I want to go out there and send a message. I'm winning this tournament, and I will be the next Bellator Lightweight World Champion.”

“Cupcake” begs to differ, stating that Chandlers wrestling pedigree actually plays to his advantage.

“Just knowing that Michael Chandler is a really good wrestler makes it easier for me to stuff his shots. I'm able to anticipate that he will be trying to take me down at some point in the fight,” said Woodard. “The plan is to defend the takedowns and knock him out. I want to beat him up. I know that he's never gone the distance so I want to put him through a battle and see how he reacts. . I've been counted out before and I haven't lost yet. I don't see this fight being any different.” 

“Both of the guys are undefeated, both had great performances in their quarter-final fights and both believe 110% that they will walk away Saturday night with a ticket to the finals. This should be a great fight,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney. 

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