Michael Chandler is locked in and ready for his bout with Conor McGregor.
UFC fighter Michael Chandler recently shared his diet and training routine ahead of his clash with Conor McGregor. The former Bellator lightweight champion turned exciting UFC contender showcases how he prepares for battle.
Getting prepped for combat sports is a very different endeavor than preparing for a bodybuilding or strength based competition. You need only observe Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall getting ready for their own boxing match as proof of that. It takes a different kind of sharp focus to prepare for battle. Besides the physical aspects of training, mindset is also a major aspect of preparing for a fight. When that fight is against the one of the most popular fighters in combat sports history, it adds yet another layer of complexity to proceedings. It also provides another level of motivation as well.
Michael Chandler is a man who is always ready to throw himself headlong into the fires of battle. Never one to shy away from a fight, Chandler is the kind of blood and guts fighter that is a must see. As he prepares for his bout against Conor McGregor, The Hurt Business star is giving a glimpse into his preparation for the UFC bout.
Coaching opposite Conor McGregor on the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fight (TUF), Michael Chandler went from respecting his rival to apparently having an altercation with the brash Irishman. That behind the scenes clash likely gave Chandler some extra motivation to be at his best ahead of their bout. That means taking his training to the next level. That also includes being diligent with his diet ahead of the affair.
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Chandler’s Diet
Like a top level bodybuilder, an MMA athlete can rely solely on their training to be in top condition. A fighter’s diet is also paramount to their preparation. As such, Michael Chandler is keeping his diet clean which will improve his performance. The UFC lightweight contender shared a bit of his diet details in a recent interview.
“I always have meat and vegetables in my fridge,” said Chandler. “Ground elk, ground beef, free-range eggs, salmon, kram (on-the-go PB & J), megafit meals during training camp. For vegetables, we got spinach, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, and beets.
“The night before the fight I like to keep it pretty much the same as I’ve been eating all camp; high protein, high fat, maybe a bit of sweet potato, rice, or gluten-free pasta but nothing too heavy because my body won’t be used to that for the entire camp.
“I am not a big breakfast guy these days but if I have it, I am doing four to six eggs scrambled with some vegetables and maybe some bacon with coconut sriracha.”
Sounds like Michael Chandler has a full fridge indeed. The UFC lightweight also confirmed that he has a cheat meal from time to time; his food of choice, pizza. Chandler also went on to speak about his supplementation that is integral to his diet.
“Multivitamins, micronutrients, minerals, electrolytes numerous times a day, especially first thing in the morning. Chug your electrolytes in cold water before coffee.
“I take a nice big espresso coffee, add a doppio espresso to it, big old scoop of coconut oil, and a non-dairy creamer.
“We love carbonated and bubbly waters. Gotta have the zero-sugar Monsters. Kombucha. Dark chocolate, cold-brew.”
Chandler’s Training Routine
Of course no fight camp preparation can be complete without some intensive training. Michael Chandler is looking to make a statement in his battle with Conor McGregor and that means leaving no stone unturned.
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In prep for the upcoming clash, Chandler is dialing his training up to eleven and making sure he has the strength and skills to take McGregor out of his game.
“I’m training MMA every single day,” continued Chandler. “Monday and Tuesday I do MMA stuff, Wednesday I’ll do strength and conditioning, Thursday night we do individual MMA stuff, and then Friday afternoon a strength workout.
“I do a lot of strength plus speed equals power where we’re lifting weights, taking them off, and then doing something explosive to create power. When I first started lifting weights, I focused on static strength movements to get stronger. Now that I’m a mature lifter, I focus a lot more now on functional movements, fast, powerful, explosive movements.
“Make sure you have a roller and use it everyday.”
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With the bad blood Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor built up on TUF 31, this battle is becoming a whole lot more interesting. Stay tuned as you won’t want to miss this clash of the titans.
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
