Michael Chandler is a well-known UFC fighter, but some of his biggest battles are with his inner voice.
The 38-year-old was set to square off with the biggest star in MMA, Conor McGregor, in a massive bout this past June but an injury to his opponent forced the fight's cancellation. There's been no word as to whether the showdown will be rescheduled between the the rival coaches from "The Ultimate Fighter 31," but Chandler revealed that his ongoing battles with his inner voice led to some self-doubt about whether he is worthy of such a high profile and lucrative encounter.
"He [my inner voice] does not think I deserve this fight," Chandler told Action Network. "But I do.
"He never would have, man, he never would have, and I think we all have that little guy or that little gal inside of us. And it's okay to have them. And I think it's also okay to open up about it. It seems more genuine, and it's more authentic: to speak about your struggles, to speak about your shortcomings, to speak about your doubts, because if you act like you are impenetrable and you're bulletproof, it's an unattainable psychology.
"I do hear the doubters, and I do hear the naysayers, and I do hear the haters, of course. But we just keep on moving forward, and even though that little guy from that little town doesn't believe that we were created to create this crazy life that we have. We just pat them on the back and say, it's okay. Just keep on coming. We're gonna keep on climbing."
Chandler said that he's learned how to silence the inner voice more, which often reminds him of his small-town upbringing and the low expectations that comes with it. However, the High Ridge, Missouri native said that he has also learned to "embrace" the self-doubt as part of his whole self, which has alowed him to accomplish great things.
"I think there's a lot of people that that story resonates with from around the world," he said. "It is part of the human condition. And I think some dragons you slay and some you get really good at pushing into a corner and managing them and realising that they are your friend.
"I was mad at the little guy for a very long time, and then once I began to acknowledge him and became friends with him, and realised that there are a lot of great things that I have accomplished, and great things that I have acquired in this life because of him. I stopped hating him, and just started to embrace him and enjoying the ride. And we're on this journey together."
Live on DAZN: X Series 017 on August 31. Click here for details.