Michael Chandler calls out Jordan Burroughs after victory at RAF03

MMA superstar and former Missouri wrestling All-American Michael Chandler had one guy on his mind: Jordan Burroughs. You thought that was going to be Conor McGregor didn’t you?

Chandler still holds out hope he’ll fight McGregor at the UFC’s White House event in 2026, but he wants to keep wrestling. In a return to the mat at Real American Freestyle 03, Chandler beat former UFC star Chad Mendes in the main event, 4-2.

Mendes, an NCAA runner-up for Cal Poly in 2008, put on a physical show with Chandler over the weekend. But with Chandler getting the win, he called out, arguably, the American GOAT.

“I’d like to say since 2009, there was a guy out there from the Midwest in the Big 12, who beat me a couple of times that I haven’t been able to get him off my mind,” Chandler said post-match. “Jordan Burroughs, this ain’t 2009! I’m bigger, I’m faster, I’m stronger, I’m more dangerous! Jump in the RAF ring with me, if you dare.”

When Chandler wrestled at Missouri, and Burroughs at Nebraska, the latter won twice. Funny enough, Burroughs had 117 takedowns in 2008-09 and only conceded one, to Chandler.

As far as the accolades, Burroughs never strayed from wrestling. He won the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal in London in Freestyle Wrestling and is a six-time world champion and nine-time medalist. Chandler, a former Bellator champion, could be nearing the end of his mixed martial arts career now that he is out of the UFC title picture.

This was Chandler’s first match in nearly 20 years, so it was a nice return for the former Tiger. RAF, using the UFC-type model, has upcoming cards where they will showcase great matchups, title fights, etc. The MMA star is definitely on board.

“That’s what’s beautiful about what these guys have done,” Chandler said. “This sport, what we do is just shake hands, go wrestle, get off the mat, and that’s it. We’re not trying to create a big spectacle. We’re not trying to create a big show, but what RAF is doing in making people feel something…people are going to feel something tomorrow night when they watch these matches, and it’s just going to grow the sport as a byproduct.”

RAF04 will be held on December 20 at Fishes Event Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. The fight card will include Wyatt Hendrickson vs. Mason Parris, Bo Nickal vs. Yoel Romero, David Carr vs. Belal Muhammad, and more to be announced in the coming day.