Michael Chandler’s decision to re-sign with Bellator came at a time when the promotion has been making big moves on the free agent market.

Now, Chandler (14-3 MMA, 11-3 BMMA) is lined up to reap the rewards of Bellator’s power plays. The former lightweight champion is set to face Strikeforce and UFC veteran Josh Thomson (22-8 MMA, 2-0 BMMA) in the co-main event of Bellator 154, which takes place May 14 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif.

It’s a fight that Chandler said he knew was going to happen, if for no other reason than strong fan interest in the bout.

“Obviously, during my negotiations, (Benson Henderson) was signed,” Chandler told MMAjunkie Radio. “There’s been constant talk since Josh Thomson signed with the organization of me and him fighting. I knew, no matter what, I was going to get that Josh Thomson fight. I didn’t know it was going to be next until recently. But I knew it was going to be within the next half of a calendar year.”

Chandler has his sights set on putting a belt back around his waist in 2016. Getting past Thompson would be step one of making that happen, but there’s bigger game just one weight class higher.

Henderson’s signing was arguably the biggest move in Bellator history. The former UFC lightweight champion rattled off a pair of wins at welterweight before hitting the free agent market. Now Henderson, who holds an honorable mention spot in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA pound for pound rankings, will debut in Bellator by fighting Andrey Koreshkov for the welterweight title at Bellator 153.

Chandler said that Henderson is on his list, and he’s willing to travel up in weight to make it happen.

“I think (Bellator believes) in all the guys that they have on their roster,” Chandler said. “I think they believe in the guys that they’re bringing in. I know that they don’t believe in the guys they’re turning away. Let’s be honest, at the end of the day, we all realize that there are people going into free agency that are coming over to Bellator and there are people going into free agency that are staying with their current promotion, maybe because the interest isn’t there from Bellator. Bellator has a strategic vision for what they want to do with the future and I’m just very blessed and fortunate to be part of that.

“I know a fight with Ben Henderson, whether it be at 155 or 170, whether I’m the champion or he’s the champion or I’ve got to go up and win two belts, whatever it has to be – I’m going to be the champion in 2016.”

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For more on Bellator 154, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.

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