Short answer? Michael Chandler lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where he also runs his own gym, Training Camp. But he’s listed as fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Florida, with Kill Cliff FC as his team. So the full picture has two locations, and we’ll sort out how they fit together.
| L | Mauricio RuffyKO/TKO · Punches to Head On Ground · R1 4:29 | UFC Freedom 250Jun 14, 2026 |
| L | Paddy PimblettKO/TKO · Elbows to Head From Mount · R3 3:07 | UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. LopesApr 12, 2025 |
| L | Charles OliveiraDecision - Unanimous · R5 5:00 | UFC 309: Jones vs. MiocicNov 16, 2024 |
| L | Dustin PoirierSubmission · Rear Naked Choke · R3 2:00 | UFC 281: Adesanya vs. PereiraNov 12, 2022 |
| W | Tony FergusonKO/TKO · Kick to Head At DistanceFront kick · R2 0:17 | UFC 274: Oliveira vs. GaethjeMay 7, 2022 |
So where’s he actually from?
Let’s start with the hometown, since people mix it up with where he lives now. Chandler was born April 24, 1986, in High Ridge, Missouri. That’s the Midwest wrestling roots you can still see in his style.
He went to the University of Missouri. He was a wrestler who racked up 100 career wins there and was ranked among the top in the NCAA. So when you see him shoot a takedown, remember where it comes from.
Does he live in Nashville?
Yes. A profile from one of his sponsors says he lives in Nashville with his wife and son while running Training Camp. That’s about as far as we’ll go on his family. It’s what’s been shared publicly, and it’s all we need.
Nashville isn’t a new move for him either. A local TV segment says that since moving there, he opened Training Camp Nashville, a personal training and group fitness gym. Wikipedia also lists a “Nashville MMA” team affiliation with him from 2018 onward.
We’re not giving a neighborhood, and we wouldn’t. City is plenty.
What’s the deal with his Florida gym?
Here’s where fans get tangled up. Chandler’s team is Kill Cliff FC, the rebranded Sanford MMA. The gym is in Deerfield Beach, Florida. ESPN also lists his team as Kill Cliff FC.
The coaching staff matters too. According to EssentiallySports, he trains under former Dutch kickboxer Henri Hooft, who handles striking, while Greg Jones is his wrestling coach.
And the gym is stacked. The teammate list includes Robbie Lawler, Gilbert Burns, Vicente Luque and Rory MacDonald. That’s a lot of different looks in sparring.
Honestly, that’s the part worth remembering. Nashville is home, and Kill Cliff is the fight team.
Wait, does he own a gym too?
He does. Training Camp in Nashville is his own project, and it’s more fitness-focused than a pure fight gym. One site describes it as an MMA gym in Nashville, while the local TV segment calls it a personal training and group fitness gym. The sources frame it a bit differently, so you may see it described either way.
He also has a home setup. In a Men’s Journal tour, Chandler showed off a fully stocked home gym on his property, his “suffering sanctuary.”
So between the home gym and his own facility, he doesn’t need a Florida trip to stay in shape. Fight camp is a different story, as we’ll get to.
Quick facts
| Item | What’s publicly reported |
|---|---|
| Hometown | High Ridge, Missouri |
| Current home | Nashville, Tennessee |
| Own gym | Training Camp (Nashville) |
| Fight team | Kill Cliff FC, Deerfield Beach, Florida |
| Coaches named by outlets | Henri Hooft (striking), Greg Jones (wrestling) |
| College | University of Missouri |
What does his fight camp look like?
Do you wonder how a 40-year-old keeps up this pace? Reports say Chandler usually goes for eight-week camps unless he takes a fight on short notice.
Per a Men’s Journal report, he trains two to three times a day, Monday to Friday, during camp. Morning sessions usually start at 10 a.m. and focus on sparring, grappling and wrestling. Evenings go to striking, grappling or strength work with his coach.
And the third session? It’s focused on weight management. That’s the part fans rarely see.
One thing we can’t tell you is how many weeks of each camp he spends in Florida versus Nashville. That split isn’t publicly confirmed, so we won’t guess.
Where does he stand right now?
You’re probably asking this too. His most recent fight was at the White House card, and UFC lists him as stopped by Mauricio Ruffy via strikes at 4:29 of the first round on June 14, 2026. His record now stands at 23-11-0.
As for what’s next, several trackers say he doesn’t have a fight currently scheduled. Nothing has been officially announced that we can find.
If you like this kind of home-base breakdown, we’ve also covered Jon Jones and his Albuquerque gym and Georges St-Pierre.
What fans usually get wrong
- “He trains only in Nashville.” His own gym is there, but his fight team is Kill Cliff FC in Florida.
- “His gym is the same as his team.” Training Camp is his business. Kill Cliff FC is where he’s listed as fighting from.
- “Old articles are current.” Some pages still call the Florida gym Sanford MMA. Same place, new name.
So that’s the map. Nashville is home, Kill Cliff in Deerfield Beach is the fight team, and Missouri is where it all began. Keep an eye out for his next camp announcement, and we’ll update when there’s one to share. Thanks for hanging out with us, and we’ll see you at the next one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Michael Chandler live?
He lives in Nashville, Tennessee, according to a sponsor’s athlete profile. We don’t share anything more specific than the city.
What gym does Michael Chandler train at?
He’s affiliated with Kill Cliff FC in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and he owns Training Camp in Nashville. He also has a home gym.
Who coaches Michael Chandler?
EssentiallySports names Henri Hooft as his striking coach and Greg Jones as his wrestling coach. Those reports aren’t brand new, so check recent camp coverage for changes.
Does Michael Chandler have a fight scheduled?
Not that we can find. Several trackers say no bout is currently scheduled after his June 2026 loss to Mauricio Ruffy.
Sources
- MegaFit Meals – Michael Chandler profile
- NewsChannel 5 Nashville – Training Camp with Michael Chandler
- EssentiallySports – Michael Chandler gym, coach and teammates
- Yardbarker – Chandler fight camp workout
- Men’s Journal via AOL – Chandler’s home gym
- UFC.com – Michael Chandler athlete page
- ESPN – Michael Chandler profile
- Wikipedia – Michael Chandler
- AgentMMA – Michael Chandler
Last updated: October 2026
