Chelsea Chandler recalls beginning MMA career by 'beating a boy up' in first karate class

Every fighter has a unique path to the UFC, but Chelsea Chandler's is a fond memory from her childhood.

Like many of her peers, Chandler started her journey as a young girl who curiously ventured into a martial arts gym. Her first martial art would be karate, though, in her reflection as a 30-year-old ranked UFC contender, she does not believe the dojo was even "real."

Ahead of her top-15 clash with Yana Santos at UFC Vegas 95 on Saturday, Chandler sat down with E. Spencer Kyte of UFC.com to discuss her mixed martial arts origin story.

"I went to a karate class when I was really little," Chandler told UFC.com. "I had a free week to try it out. I don't think it was a real karate gym because they put me with this boy that was about my size and just told us to fight each other. I remember beating this boy up. I think he cried, and I had so much fun in class."

After her first class, Chandler told Kyte that she excitedly returned home to her mother to tell her how much she enjoyed the experience. Her mother initially rejected the idea in fear for her safety, but Chandler eventually found her way back to the mats, where she has been ever since.

Chelsea Chandler faces Yana Santos at UFC Vegas 95

In her ninth professional MMA fight, Chandler will bring her 6-2 record into the Octagon against Santos, a former women's featherweight title challenger. Fresh off a win over Josiane Nunes at UFC Vegas 88, Chandler will enter the matchup as the No. 14 ranked contender, with Santos holding onto her position two spots above at No. 12.

The win over Nunes was Chandler's first in the UFC bantamweight division, although she missed weight by one pound. As one of the bigger female fighters in the UFC, Chandler has not successfully weighed in for a 135-pound fight since her professional debut at Invicta FC 28.

Chandler's professional debut came three weeks after Santos — then known as Yana Kunitskaya — challenged Cris Cyborg for the UFC women's featherweight title in the main event of UFC 222.

Despite having the bigger name of the two, Santos enters the fight on a three-fight losing streak. Since her win over Ketlen Vieira in 2021 put her on the brink of title contention, the 34-year-old has dropped her following fights to Irene Aldana, Holly Holm and Karol Rosa.