Coker: Chandler should be 1st to face Primus for Bellator title

Michael Chandler may soon get the chance at closure he's been pining for.

Speaking shortly after Saturday's Bellator 183, president Scott Coker revealed Chandler was - for all intents and purposes - next in line to challenge Brent Primus for the lightweight strap he lost due to freak injury at Bellator NYC in June.

"We’ve been waiting for Chandler to fight Primus again," Coker said, per Steven Marrocco and John Morgan of MMAjunkie.

Chandler's second reign came to an abrupt end when he rolled his ankle just over two minutes into his dance with Primus, and while he later stated he'd merely sustained nerve damage, the cageside physician ruled him unfit to continue, thereby crowning Primus the new Bellator 155-pound king.

The 31-year-old had targeted the fall for a rematch, but fatherhood has put Primus on the shelf for the time being, says Coker.

"(Primus') wife is having a baby, and we’re very respectful of that," Coker said. "We’re waiting for him, and when he’s ready to re-engage, I think Chandler should be the first one."

Fellow lightweight contender and former foe Patricky Freire has designs on foiling Chandler's plans, however, issuing a challenge Primus appeared to accept on Twitter shortly after Freire edged Benson Henderson on Saturday's card.

Chandler, who had his eyes glued to both this weekend's action and the Twitterverse, was less than amused by their gentleman's agreement: