If there was one complication in Michael Chandler's latest round of negotiations with Bellator MMA, it was that the promotion agreed to everything he wanted.
Chandler (18-4) fought out his previous contract earlier this year and could have tested free agency. He chose to sign an exclusive extension with Bellator instead, and will meet Brent Primus for the lightweight championship on Friday in Honolulu.
Chandler, 32, did not take that decision lightly. It's no secret the UFC's lightweight division is one of the deepest in the sport, and it will be difficult for Chandler to prove he's the best in the world without those matchups. For that reason, part of him wanted to explore a deal with the UFC.
But when Bellator agreed to every one of his demands in order to keep him, Chandler couldn't refuse.
"There is no businessman in the world who would go to their employer and say, 'I need X, Y and Z to stay here,' have them say 'yes' -- and then leave anyway," Chandler told ESPN. "I asked for a contract that is different than 99 percent of the contracts out there, and they said yes.
"There are a lot of disgruntled athletes out there with other organizations. I'm happy with the life I'm making for my wife and son. That's the most important thing."
The reaction to Chandler's decision to re-up with Bellator has been mixed. Bellator is in a strong position going into 2019 and recently announced a nine-figure distribution deal with streaming service DAZN -- but when it comes to the lightweight division, Bellator simply does not offer the depth of the UFC.
Bellator president Scott Coker says it's his responsibility to change that during the course of Chandler's new deal.
"It's my job to go out there and get some more top talent for him to compete with," Coker said. "And we'll do that. You've seen us do that in our welterweight division and at heavyweight. Some of this is fluid. You can't say, exactly, which division is going to start popping out free agents.
"But we are watching the landscape 24/7, and we are going to bring the best free agents in to really boost that 155-pound weight class."
Right now, it starts with Primus (8-0), the undefeated lightweight champ who took Chandler's belt in June 2017 under some controversy. Primus, of Portland, Oregon, won that fight when Chandler suffered a lower leg injury in the opening round. Primus has not fought since, for various reasons.
Chandler knows it's typically not great promotion to discredit your opponent, but he characterizes Primus as a paper champ, one who might even know it deep down.
"I just don't think in a million years he thinks he can actually beat me," Chandler said. "But I'm not taking him lightly. I can see 1,000 ways I could lose or overlook this guy. So I've taken it upon myself to train for this guy like I'm fighting the best fighter in the world.
"I don't think he thinks he can beat me, but I think he can beat me -- in the darkest corners of my head. And that has made me prepare."