Chandler sleeps Girtz in 1st round to claim Bellator's win record

Michael Chandler typically brings fireworks when competing in his home state, and Friday's date with Brandon Girtz was no exception.

The Missouri native sent Girtz to dreamland with an arm-triangle choke in the first round of Bellator 197's lightweight headliner in St. Charles. The result gave Chandler the most victories (15), stoppages (11), and submissions (6) in promotional history.

Chandler - a two-time lightweight titleholder - had been scheduled to challenge Brent Primus on the bill after a freak ankle injury cost the former the crown in their first fight this past June, but ultimately picked up his fifth Bellator W in Missouri - all within the distance - after Girtz valiantly stepped up to replace an injured Primus on three weeks' notice.

The pair landed little of consequence between them other than a few kicks to the body, with Girtz's flurries failing to find Chandler's chin. The ex-champ soon ditched the tentative striking affair for a slam that appeared to have injured Girtz's shoulder, and after briefly trapping him in a mounted crucifix, swiftly passed over to side control and put the squeeze on his foe until he'd been separated from consciousness four minutes in.

Girtz, 33, has now dropped four of his last five, with the sole victory a quick knockout of Luka Jelcic scored in his previous outing at Bellator 190 in December. His promotional record sits at 7-6.