Chandler sounds off on Primus, Patricio Freire ahead of Bellator 197

Michael Chandler has a bone to pick with not one, but two fighters regarding next month's homecoming.

The Missouri native was to challenge lightweight champion Brent Primus in a rematch on April 13 at Bellator 197 in St. Charles, only for his rival to bow out with a knee injury this week and featherweight titlist Patricio Freire to turn down a late-notice matchup to close out the bill, as Chandler alleged to ESPN's Brett Okamoto on Thursday.

Before agreeing to face Brandon Girtz in the card's newly booked main event, Chandler claimed he'd fielded an offer to face Freire - whose brother Patricky is a two-time conquest of his - and signed on the dotted line before hearing the Brazilian hadn't met him halfway.

"I said, '100 percent, let's do that,'" Chandler said. "I've been wanting to fight that guy for a while. I sent my contract over, and a couple hours later, I got a call back that basically said, 'Never mind. Patricio is making all kinds of demands,' which were basically smoke and mirrors for, 'I don't want to fight.'

"He's said he wants to put my head on his mantle. Bellator gives him the fight he supposedly wants, and he turns it down. He's a coward with a big mouth."

Freire has since taken to Twitter to give his own account of the failed negotiations.

The two-time champion was just as sore with Primus, who won the lightweight crown from him in June at Bellator NYC when a freak ankle injury rendered Chandler unable to continue in the first round. The delay in booking an immediate rematch has prompted Chandler to repeatedly belittle Primus as a part-time fighter, and his estimation of the reigning champ didn't change in wake of this week's development.

"I know Brent Primus is not actually hurt. Until I see an MRI that shows a real injury, I guarantee he is not hurt. But I don't get what his angle is, because he's not making any extra money off being a champion. Anthony Pettis held the UFC title for two years and only defended it once, but he got on a Wheaties box and lived the high life of being a champion. That's smart. I don't see Brent doing that.

"Nobody believes he is the true champion. Everybody has discredited him for the way the fight went down. If I was him, it would take an act of God for me not to step into the cage against a guy I really needed to prove myself against."

Primus has fought just once per year since 2014 and maintained he aims to run it back with Chandler once recovered in a Wednesday statement.

The 31-year-old Chandler, however, isn't as invested in a rematch. Having already captured Bellator's 155-pound twice before, he openly entertained marquee matchups at 170 pounds prior to booking the ill-fated date with Primus, and told Okamoto he'd weigh his options once he's fought Girtz at Family Arena next month.