Charles Oliveira has already built an incredible legacy during his time in the UFC which is sure to endure long after he retires from the sport. That being said, the 35-year old is confident that he still has much more to give and he could enter a new phase of his career on Saturday night.
At UFC 309, “Do Bronx” returns in a rematch of one of the most important fights of his entire 45-fight career. He finished Michael Chandler in the second round back in 2021 to win the vacant lightweight title and now they will run it back over five rounds in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden.
Before his incredible lightweight winning streak that led to him beating Chandler and going on a great run as the champion, Oliveira suffered some fairly substantial setbacks along the way. One of those came to an elite competitor that has recently announced that lightweight will be his long-term home going forward.
BMF Champion Max Holloway is ready to leave featherweight behind for good following his recent loss to Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 last month. His performance earlier this year against Justin Gaethje proved once and for all that he can hang with the best 155-pounders in the division.
Though Oliveira is focused on beating Chandler for a second time, he’s also open to the idea of meeting Holloway in a rematch.
The two fan favorites met back in 2015 where “Blessed” got the first round finish due to an injury that the Brazilian suffered. He told MMA Fighting in a recent interview that fighting Holloway for the BMF belt is a fight that interests him due to the stakes attached.
“I’m about legacy. That’d be great. Why not? As I’m talking about [legacy], I mean, being the BMF champ would be gigantic for that.”
Charles Oliveira will join fans in watching Islam Makhachev’s anticipated title defense against Arman Tsarukyan. The bout is expected to showcase the lightweight champion Makhachev facing the rising contender at UFC 311 on January 18, though the UFC has not yet officially confirmed the fight.
Oliveira is familiar with both fighters, having suffered losses to each. He lost to Tsarukyan by decision at UFC 300 after previously falling to Makhachev by submission in their title fight at UFC 280. Speaking to New York Post Sports, Oliveira shared that, if the fight is finalized, he would lean toward Makhachev as the likely victor.
“They have very similar styles, and I think each has to watch for the same things,” Oliveira said. “They need to be cautious with the striking, as both have some striking ability, but they also need to be very mindful of each other’s ground game.”
He continued, “It’s a very close matchup style-wise, but I think Islam has a slight edge over Arman. He’s just a bit stronger. But when it comes down to it, either of them could come out on top.”
Oliveira is set to face Michael Chandler next Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Michael Chandler is out for revenge at UFC 309 when he faces Charles Oliveira in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden. The two men first met back at UFC 262 where only one of two storybook moments could happen.
Either the former Bellator star was going to finally make his way into the UFC and in two fights, become the lightweight champion or “Do Bronx” would finally win the big one after years of being on the roster. Chandler is happy to admit that it was Oliveira’s night back in 2021 where his dream of winning the gold was temporarily shattered.
Though he didn’t get the Conor McGregor fight that he waited so long for, this opportunity to avenge his loss to the former champion and get himself back in the title picture was the kind of chance that he knew he has to grab with both hands. In a recent interview with CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Chandler spoke about what has changed since his first encounter with Oliveira.
He believes that for all of the experience that he accumulated outside of the UFC, he’s a far different competitor now compared to the one that was making just his second appearance inside the Octagon.
“I was extremely green, extremely early at that point when I fought Charles and yes, I had been fighting for years, I was 34-years old, had 20-something fights but at that point in time, I had only competed in the Octagon for a little over two minutes. I had just beaten Dan Hooker, knocked him out in two and a half minutes… I was inexperienced. Charles, I think a star was born that night. That was really the night, whenever Charles became champion, and then he went on the run and he beat Gaethje, he beat Poirier, and he really became the champion and really solidified himself.”
Michael Chandler has been out of action for almost two years, having last fought Dustin Poirier in November 2022. Outside of TUF 31, he’s spent most of this time waiting for Conor McGregor, but after the upheaval around UFC 303, he finally moved on to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.
Following his razor-close split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, Oliveira is currently the #2 ranked UFC lightweight in the world. So, defeating him should put Chandler in line for a title shot.
Chandler fought frequently in the UFC since his debut against Dan Hooker. It appears he wants to compensate for the two-year hiatus by fighting as many high-profile names as possible before 2025.
Chandler recently appeared on the SHAK MMA YouTube channel for an interview. When asked if he would fight McGregor or Makhachev after a win over Oliveira, “Iron” stated that getting the UFC lightweight title is his priority. He also feels the need to settle the rivalry with “The Notorious” which began with TUF 31.
“The title is the number one goal but there is some unfinished business. Chandler vs. McGregor TUF 31, it needs, that chapter needs to close to some point. Conor wants that fight. He’s talked about it openly in public, in interviews. Obviously, I want that fight. I’m not focused on it right now. I’m focused on Charles, but it’ll be interesting you know. Because you also got to remember, Islam is fighting probably in January, could be late January. He’s gonna go into Ramadan in February, all of March, won’t be able to go till training camp, won’t be able to fight till June July. I’m not trying to wait till June or July. So, Conor could sneak in there, we could see Chandler vs. Oliveira, Chandler vs. Conor, Chandler vs. Islam, Chandler vs. Max. The craziest four or five fight-run in a 12-month period that anyone’s ever seen.”
Besides Makhachev and McGregor, “Iron” is also interested in fighting former UFC featherweight champion and the reigning BMF champion Max Holloway in 2025. Fans have been eagerly waiting to see this fight too, as both fighters boast an aggressive, fearless, and striking-heavy fighting style.
It’ll be interesting to see how many superfights Chandler can be a part of before the end of 2025. For now, he needs to focus on beating Oliveira, who already holds a TKO win over him.
While the aftermath of the October 26 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the featherweight title picture to the heavyweight championship conversation.
At UFC 309, set for the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City on November 16, reigning kingpin Jon Jones will compete for the first time this year in defense of his gold. Following a submission of Ciryl Gane to capture the crown, “Bones” will finally face the challenge of returning legend Stipe Miocic 20 months later.
Nickal, Weidman, Silva Set The Stage For High-Profile Headliners At UFC 309
Before Jones defends his belt and Oliveira runs it back with Chandler, a number of other notable names will take to the Octagon looking to make the most of their position on the major UFC 309 card.
That includes fast-rising flyweight Karine Silva, who gets her toughest assignment to date opposite longtime contender Viviane Araújo. Having won all four of her UFC fights and risen to #11 on the ladder following a submission of Maryna Moroz and decision victory over Ariane Lipski, “Killer” will look to break into title contention at the expense of Araújo, who lost to Natália Silva last time out.
Those pairings have gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the light heavyweight clash between #6-ranked contender Nikita Krylov and the undefeated Azamat Murzakanov, which is currently slated to top the preliminary portion of the event.
See below for the full UFC 309 card, as it stands.
Main Card:
Light Heavyweight Championship Main Event: Jon Jones (C) vs. Stipe Miocic
Lightweight Co-Main Event: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler
Women’s Flyweight: Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva
Middleweight: Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig
Middleweight: Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov
Bantamweight: Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
Lightweight: Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson
Early Preliminary Card:
Welterweight: Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj
Welterweight: Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott
Women’s Flyweight: Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura
At UFC 309 in New York, Michael Chandler will make his long awaited return to the Octagon where he’s in search of revenge. After waiting for his fight with Conor McGregor to materialize for so long, he’s happy with how things worked out even though he’s not fighting “The Mac”.
Instead, “Iron” Mike has the opportunity to put himself right back in the title picture by beating Charles Oliveira in a rematch of their first meeting over three years ago.
After Chandler’s big win over Dan Hooker on his UFC debut, he and “Do Bronx” put on a crazy fight at UFC 262 which saw the Brazilian stop him in the second round to win the lightweight title that was left behind by Khabib Nurmagomedov in retirement.
One contender at 155-pounds that has been very critical of Chandler’s all-action fighting style is Arman Tsarukyan, who appears to be gearing up for a rematch with the champion, Islam Makhachev, early next year. He’s made it clear that he’s not the biggest fan of the former Bellator star and doesn’t respect him as a top fighter in the division.
Tsarukyan is coming off of a hard fought win over Oliveira last time out at UFC 300 to solidify his status as the number one contender in the division. When looking at the upcoming co-main event at Madison Square Garden in an interview with MMA Junkie, it’s no surprise that he’s picking his former opponent to win in convincing fashion and earn the next shot at the belt.
“Michael Chandler going to lose for sure. He’s number one easy fight for Charles Oliveira, he’s going to choke him out or knock him out. Easy money for Oliveira so so happy for him and after the fight, Oliveira is going to be the next after me so I’m going to fight with Islam and after that fight, for sure he’s going to fight for the title because he has a big name, he was the champion and the UFC loves him.”
Following his undefeated winning streak inside the Octagon and big submission win over Bobby Green last time out, Paddy Pimblett finds himself in the mix at 155-pounds. The #14-ranked lightweight isn’t necessarily in a rush to get himself a title shot but it is something he’s thought about.
“The Baddy” has already made it clear that Renato Moicano is his next target and the fight makes a lot of sense. Both men are great talkers, are ranked inside the top 15 and are on impressive winning streaks.
In a recent YouTube video, Pimblett spoke about how he would need to leap up the division’s rankings in order to secure a title shot as fast as possible.
2-Fight Plan That Would Land Him A Title Shot
Following some sparring rounds, a big meal and signing some memorabilia, Pimblett answered some questions from the fans in a recent YouTube video on his channel.
One fan asked what his quickest route to the title would be and “The Baddy” started at Moicano which is likely going to be his next fight. With “Money” ranked at #11, a win over the Brazilian would set Pimblett up for a huge fight next time out.
He said that squaring off with someone like the former champion, Charles Oliveira, could put him into position for a title fight with just two more wins.
“What’s the ideal run to a title fight? I’ve seen a lot of people saying I’m like two fights away from a title fight and that is nice but two fights from a title fight would have to be like Moicano, rank #10, and then do like an O’Malley. Fight like rank #2 straight away and that would be a Charles Oliveira. I’d do that. I’d fight Moicano, beat Moicano and then I’d fight Oliveira. That’s probably my quickest route to a title shot to be honest. I really like both of them. Really like watching them fight so it’d be a pleasure to, even more of a pleasure to get in there with Charles.”
Charles Oliveira has shared his thoughts on how the UFC should approach Tony Ferguson’s potential return to the Octagon. Ferguson, currently on an eight-fight losing streak, was defeated by Oliveira in 2020.
During an interview with MMA Fighting, Oliveira expressed how difficult it was to see Ferguson suffer another loss, this time to Michael Chiesa via first-round submission in August. Following the fight, Ferguson hinted at retirement but later changed his stance, stating he still wanted to compete.
Oliveira’s Perspective
“He deserves all the respect in the world just for continuing to fight. He deserves a standing ovation for everything he’s accomplished in the UFC,” Oliveira said. “But I think the UFC should give him some help by matching him up with someone [closer to his age] so they can put on a great show, and we can all applaud them.”
Oliveira continued, “The guy doesn’t want to retire, he’s still here. So why not match him with someone who shares the same vibe and experience? That would be amazing. But putting him up against these young, hungry fighters seeking to make a name off him—it’s complicated. It sucks. He’s older now, and pitting him against kids? That’s tough for him.”
During Ferguson’s current skid, he has been finished by Justin Gaethje, Michael Chandler, Nate Diaz, and Bobby Green. He has also dropped decisions to Beneil Dariush and Paddy Pimblett. His last victory came over Donald Cerrone in June 2019.
After last weekend’s announcement of Michael Chandler competing later this year in a fight that does not involve him, many are now left questioning what is next for Conor McGregor in the UFC.
UFC CEO Dana White announced last weekend that Chandler will not be facing McGregor next. Instead, “Iron” will face former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309 on Nov. 16.
White added at the time that they were looking at some point in 2025 for McGregor’s next fight, reiterating comments he made a month earlier following the Dana White’s Contender Series season premiere that McGregor will not compete in 2024.
In the immediate aftermath, McGregor expressed confusion about his placement in the UFC following the booking of Oliveira vs. Chandler 2. A week later, however, the former UFC two-division champion has seemed to have changed his tone.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani during the DAZN broadcast of Anthony Joshua vs. Daniel Dubois on Saturday night, McGregor claimed he’s unbothered by waiting until 2025.
Conor McGregor tells Ariel Helwani he will be fighting in 2025. Says he would like his return to be against Michael Chandler. https://t.co/s7mkDJfaVW
Conor McGregor Still Wants Michael Chandler, Says It Is A ‘Must’ To Fight Out UFC Contract
“It will be 2025,” McGregor said. “It is what it is. I just take it on board and just rock on. And my job is just to be in the gym, be in the gym, be in shape. One thing is for sure: whenever it is, and wherever it is, I will be 100 percent ready. That’s all I can focus on right now.”
McGregor added that it is a “must” to compete twice in 2025. McGregor has two fights remaining on his current UFC contract but said he was unsure what happens when he becomes a free agent.
White, last week, stated that McGregor vs. Chandler is not completely shut down and could still happen after Chandler fights Oliveira.
When asked about who he wants across the cage from him in his return, McGregor, while uncertain, claimed plans are still unchanged in his mind. He wants to finish his business with Chandler.
“Man, who knows now?” McGregor said. “It does not matter. I’d like it to be Chandler; I’d like that to be squared away. I wish him well against Oliveira, but let’s see how it goes.”
McGregor has not been seen in the UFC since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Chandler and Oliveira, meanwhile, previously fought in the main event of UFC 262 in 2021, facing each other for the then-vacant UFC lightweight championship. “Do Bronx” scored the win via second-round TKO.
The fate of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler is more uncertain than ever, but Charles Oliveira says he’s open to fighting McGregor as long as a certain stipulation is met.
After even more time has passed without a set date for McGregor vs. Chandler, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed just prior to Noche UFC (UFC 3060 last weekend that Chandler has opted to take a fight with Oliveira.
The clash between “Do Bronx” and “Iron” will serve as a five-round co-main event for UFC 309, which takes place on Nov. 16 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. It will be a rematch from their lightweight title bout at UFC 262 and Chandler’s first fight since losing to Dustin Poirier at the same venue two years earlier.
There has been some supposed reassurance that Chandler’s planned fight with McGregor, which has been long awaited since the two were announced as the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter season 31 in early 2023, can still happen following the Oliveira bout. But given the Brazilian’s status as as former lightweight champion who is still high up in the UFC’s lightweight rankings, it brings about questions as to how Oliveira vs. Chandler 2’s outcome could impact plans for both the UFC lightweight title and McGregor.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Oliveira said he does not blame Chandler for waiting as long as he did. However, he himself would not have had the same patience.
That said, Oliveira was also asked about choosing between another crack at the lightweight gold and McGregor.
Charles Oliveira Says He’d Fight Conor McGregor As Long As He’d Get Title Shot In Next Fight: ‘Why Not?’
Ultimately, Oliveira said if he was forced to pick between the two, he would lean toward the title fight. But, the ex-titleholder said he would be down to fight McGregor if it guaranteed him a title fight in the next outing.
“Am I next in line if I beat McGregor? If that’s the plan, then I’m 100 percent in. But if you say, ‘No, you have to choose one of the two,’ I’m definitely going for the title,” Oliveira said. “If I have the opportunity to fight Conor and we make a lot of money, because he sells a lot and so do I — and we would definitely brow the roofs off with this pay-per-view —, not to mention the money off the purse, and I’m still next for the belt, I would definitely do it. Why not?
“(My managers Diego Lima and Jorge Patino) know what my plan is. I want the fights that take me to the belt. I’ve been posting a lot these days, ‘Waiting for the boss to call,’ and the UFC definitely sees that. Diego and ‘Macaco’ came with the Chandler fight, and I’m definitely much closer to the title with a win over Chandler. I’ll just stay focused now. Chandler is super tough and deserves all the respect. He knows how much I respect and care for him, so it’s definitely going to be a great fight.”
Oliveira will be looking to rebound from a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan in a title eliminator at UFC 300. “Do Bronx” defeated Chandler for the then-vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 and defended the title against Poirier at UFC 269. He controversially lost the title on the scale before UFC 274 and then lost a vacant title fight with current champ Islam Makhachev at UFC 280.
The UFC lightweight title is next expected to be defended in early 2025 in a fight between Makhachev and Tsarukyan.
Chandler is 2-3 in the UFC, with victories over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson in addition to his losses opposite Poirier, Oliveira, and Gaethje.
McGregor, meanwhile, has not fought since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout with Poirier at UFC 264.
Michael Chandler had been sitting out to fight Conor McGregor for nearly two years. However, with uncertainty still surrounding that matchup, he’s moved on to face Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in a five-round co-main event.
Chandler and Oliveira previously fought at UFC 262 for lightweight gold, which was the former’s second fight in the UFC. “Do Bronxs” almost got knocked out in the first but bounced back by finishing “Iron” early in the second.
Top five UFC lightweight Dan Hooker is also close to a title shot following his win over Mateusz Gamrot. The fan-favorite brawler has an interesting theory on why the UFC has booked Oliveira and Chandler and how it benefits the promotion to have multiple contenders…
Dan Hooker Calls Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler A Weird Fight But Understands Why The UFC Booked It
Hooker discussed the highly anticipated lightweight matchup between Chandler and Oliveira during an interview on the Submission Radio YouTube channel recently. He didn’t initially seem too excited about the booking but also revealed why it makes sense for the UFC.
According to “The Hangman”, the UFC wouldn’t want Arman Tsarukyan to be the only title contender at lightweight for financial reasons. Negotiating with a fighter is harder if they’re the only obvious choice to fight for any division’s title, not just lightweight.
So, by booking Oliveira and Chandler for UFC 309, the UFC is looking to get another potential lightweight title contender. Meanwhile, Hooker can solidify a title shot too after winning his next fight. This way, the UFC will have three contenders for the belt and instead of rigid negotiations, the promotion can initiate a bidding war between the three.
“Yeah, I still think it’s Arman next and then, I feel like it’s such a. I can see why the UFC’s kind of matching the fights that they’re matching these fights is because they want options, right? Because if there’s just, if there’s just one guy that’s like head and shoulders next in line for the title and it’s set in stone, then, obviously, negotiating becomes very difficult for them because they’re like everyone expects this fight, the pressure’s on the UFC to make this fight so obviously, the bloke can ask for a s**t ton more money.”
“The Hangman” then explained how the situation mentioned above can be neutralized by having multiple contenders:
“If the UFC matches a bunch of fights and gets like three or four contenders and no one’s really sure about who’s next. Then, like, it becomes like just a bit of a bidding war between the fighters. So, I get why the UFC is doing it the way they’re doing it is because they want as many guys that make sense for the title as they possibly can. So, yeah, Chandler gets by him, you know, I win my next fight, then you got three guys that have like justification for getting a title shot.”
Despite it being obvious to most fans, the UFC hasn’t booked Islam Makhachev against Tsarukyan because of the champion’s injury. The lightweight kingpin is expected to return by the end of 2024 or early 2025, and getting a couple more contenders by then seems like the best-case scenario for the promotion, according to Hooker’s theory.
Michael Chandler last fought in November 2022 and lost via third-round submission to Dustin Poirier. Because the fight was a back-and-forth brawl like his usual bouts, he didn’t lose his appeal and was soon booked to welcome back Conor McGregor to the UFC.
McGregor and Chandler shot The Ultimate Fighter 31, but it never translated into a fight as the Irishman was first busy shooting Roadhouse and then pulled out of UFC 303 because of a toe injury. Chandler had been waiting on the sidelines but he’s now snapped out of it to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.
Both Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen believe that fighting “Do Bronxs” is not at all optimal for Chandler…
Daniel Cormier & Chael Sonnen Explain Why Charles Oliveira Is A Worse Matchup For Michael Chandler Than Conor McGregor
Sonnen and Cormier discussed the UFC 309 co-main event on a recent episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel. Both UFC greats appreciated “Iron” for moving on from the Dubliner as the latter has shown no real proof of returning to the Octagon lately.
Having said that, both Sonnen and DC are concerned about Chandler facing Oliveira after a nearly two-year-long layoff. While he’s been sitting out, “Do Bronxs” has knocked out Beneil Dariush and given Arman Tsarkuyan one of his toughest fights yet.
Here are Cormier’s two cents on Chandler’s UFC 309 return:
“Chandler will never get a bigger fight, but he did get a tougher fight. Charles Oliveira is still fighting at the top of the game. Charles Oliveira was scheduled to fight for the world championship and then got hurt with the big cut. Charles Oliveira fought Tsarukyan and fought him competitively who is now fighting for the world championship. These guys are as good as they come. Michael Chandler, though, has sat, and that’s the problem.”
Chandler nearly knocked out Oliveira early during their first outing. However, according to Cormier, he might not be equally effective or explosive after not being inside the Octagon for almost 24 months.
“The American Gangster” also remembered that the McGregor fight was supposed to happen at 170 pounds. On the other hand, Chandler will have to weigh in at 155 pounds for Oliveira which is an additional mental and physical burden, to say the least.
Here’s what Sonnen thinks about the UFC 309 co-main event:
“Charles Oliveira is a rough night out. Not to mention, it’s a match they’ve already done. You don’t get better at a sport by not doing it. Chandler’s been on the side lines waiting to do it, I got to think that Oliveira is a meaningful favorite here. I would think the line’s only about two to one and a half but I think those people are going to be very confident. I like that he’s back. It’s a very tough night out.”
Michael Chandler recently shared his belief that Conor McGregor’s deep passion for MMA will inevitably draw him back to the Octagon.
Chandler’s name has been linked to the former two-division UFC champion ever since the two were cast as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year. The plan was to eventually clash in a highly anticipated showdown in the season finale.
However, by the third quarter of 2024, “Iron” remained laser-focused on his training, passing up opportunities to compete against other fighters as he stayed committed to the long-promised bout with McGregor. Meanwhile, “The Notorious” was frequently seen enjoying his extravagant lifestyle, partying, and fully embracing his larger-than-life persona.
Chandler and Oliveira first squared off for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in May 2021. In that bout, the Brazilian emerged victorious with a second-round TKO to claim UFC gold.
The upcoming rematch doesn’t suggest that ‘Iron’ has abandoned his lofty goal of fighting McGregor. On the contrary, the former Bellator lightweight champion remains hopeful that the potential matchup could still materialize sometime next year.
Chandler Says McGregor Is Too ‘Romantic’ About MMA to Stay Away
During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Chandler was asked if, after all the hurdles in booking his fight with McGregor, he still believes the Irishman will ever return to the UFC. The former lightweight title challenger acknowledged that while ‘The Notorious’ may currently be focused on ventures outside the UFC, he firmly believes McGregor’s deep-rooted passion for MMA will inevitably pull him back. And when that moment comes, Chandler assured that he’ll be ready to face him.
“You just look at his history. Conor McGregor is a nothing, a nobody, without the sport of mixed martial arts, without the UFC platform, without the legacy that he’s created,” Chandler said. “I believe he’s romantic about it. I believe he loves the sport. I believe his spirit loves the sport, but sometimes his body and his brain want other things, right? And I’ve never walked a mile in that man’s shoes, neither have you, so who are we to critique him? But I do believe he comes back, and when he does, I’ll be waiting. I just might have the title by then, so it could be a very interesting set of circumstances.”
“Iron” hasn’t fought for almost two years, following his third-round submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. Many have speculated that Chandler squandered his prime years by remaining inactive, waiting for a fight with McGregor.
However, the 38-year-old American has no regrets about his time away from the cage. Instead, he believes the break was much-needed, allowing him to recharge and reset away from the relentless grind of competition.
“When I step into the Octagon next time, it’s going to be two years since I fought. But I already had a bout agreement, already had a contract signed, already broke the biggest gate record, and was lined up against Conor. We had a fight, but the fight got pulled, so you can’t really have any regrets. All you can do is make the best decisions… I enjoyed myself; I needed some time away from the sport. When you’re fighting the best and toughest guys in the world, constantly in training camps, constantly dealing with the pressure and the rigors of what I go through—because I take it so seriously—the sport can chew you up and gobble you up.”
Chandler and McGregor were ultimately slated to headline UFC 303 this past June, but the fight was abruptly scrapped at the eleventh hour when McGregor pulled out just two weeks before the event due to a leg injury.
During his long wait for the return of Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler has had a lot of time to think about how he wants to spend the remainder of his career.
“Iron” Mike has delivered non-stop entertainment since arriving in the UFC back in 2021 where all but one of his Octagon appearances have seen him earn a performance or fight of the night bonus.
That one exception is his first encounter with Charles Oliveira at UFC 262 where the two men fought for the vacant lightweight title in the aftermath of Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement.
Michael Chandler Explains Shift In Mindset Ahead Of Long Awaited Octagon Return
Chandler states that during the two-year break between fights whilst he was waiting to face McGregor, he fell back in love with the sport due to the separation he had from it.
In that time, the former Bellator champion underwent a change in mindset which he recently explained in an interview on Bussin’ With The Boys.
He certainly did that but in MMA, when you live by the sword, you die by it too and that all-action style can sometimes only get you so far.
When asked what will be different about this rematch with “Do Bronx” over three years on from their first meeting, Chandler said that he’s coming into Madison Square Garden with a refreshed outlook.
“The maturation process of who I am as an individual and fighter. For better or worse, I needed to come into the UFC and stake my claim and prove myself, right, and now I have proven myself. So, Chandler 1.0 was come into the UFC, prove the doubters wrong that this Bellator dude can’t come in and compete with the best guys in the world, obviously I have done that.
“Win, lose or draw, it’s a great fight. Win, lose or draw, I’ve hurt everybody that I’ve fought. Win, lose or draw, I’m getting fight of the night. Win, lose or draw, you’re on the edge of your seat when Michael Chandler steps inside the Octagon right? And now, Chandler 2.0 is okay, I had an opportunity to step back, fall back in love with the sport and now I truly believe now more than ever that it’s time for me to go win the title so fighting Oliveira puts me in that position.”
Michael Bisping recently laid out a possible route for Michael Chandler to secure his long-awaited bout with Conor McGregor, despite the American’s upcoming clash with his old rival, Charles Oliveira, looming on the horizon.
Chandler and Oliveira’s upcoming bout will serve as a rematch of their vacant lightweight title clash at UFC 262 in May 2021, where “Do Bronx” secured a second-round TKO victory to claim the championship.
However, after encountering numerous setbacks in booking their bout, the two were eventually set to headline UFC 303 this past June, only for the bout to be scrapped at the eleventh hour when McGregor withdrew just two weeks before the event.
The UFC 309 fight doesn’t entirely close the door on Chandler’s ambitious plans to face the former two-division UFC champion. In fact, Chandler remains optimistic, expressing confidence that his highly anticipated clash with McGregor could still come to fruition sometime in 2025.
Bisping Discusses How Chandler Might Still Land McGregor Fight
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Bisping shared his thoughts on the current landscape of the UFC lightweight division, particularly as Chandler is set to fight Oliveira in a high-stakes rematch.
The UFC Hall of Famer acknowledged that while this bout doesn’t carry the same blockbuster allure as a fight with McGregor, it holds equal significance for “Iron.” A victory over “Do Bronx” could propel Chandler back into the heart of a second title contention conversation.
“He’s stepping in against Charles Oliveira,” Bisping said. “We know this is a rematch. Of course, Chandler had some success in the first fight—he did hurt Oliveira, but he also got hurt himself. He got dropped, so this is a very relevant fight for Michael Chandler. It’s not the Conor McGregor matchup, but it is a fight that is relevant in the title picture. If Chandler can go out there, if he can beat Charles Oliveira, if he can get his hands on Islam Makhachev next, which is what he says he wants, and become the champion of the world, then he can get a fight with Conor McGregor down the line.”
“The Count” went on to suggest that if Chandler manages to capture the 155-pound title, it could pave the way for a future showdown with McGregor. Although McGregor’s prolonged absence from the Octagon would undoubtedly raise questions and draw heavy scrutiny, his undeniable star power could still secure him the fight.
“Even though Conor McGregor shouldn’t get a title fight and you’ll all say I’m crazy, the man is super popular, and numbers talk, right? Money talks, bullsh*t runs the marathon. If Chandler is the champ, and Chandler said that McGregor’s road back to the Octagon only goes through him, we could see Chandler vs. McGregor for the lightweight strap. But there’s a lot of ifs and buts.”
Chandler has been absent from the Octagon for nearly two years now. His last appearance came against Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022, where “Iron” suffered a third-round submission loss despite a valiant showing. Meanwhile, McGregor has remained on the sidelines ever since suffering a devastating leg break during his trilogy bout against Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
It seems that Michael Chandler finally got sick of waiting.
For the past year-and-a-half, Chandler has been penciled in as the return opponent for Conor McGregor. The former two-division UFC champion had his comeback announced toward the start of 2023, with the Irishman scheduled to coach opposite “Iron” on The Ultimate Fighter before sharing the cage with him.
But after 2023 passed by without that matchup reaching the Octagon, talk of a UFC 300 headliner dissipated, and an official fight date in the form of UFC 303 fell through, another calendar year looks set to come and go with the absence of “The Notorious” star.
Plenty have been urging the former Bellator champ to move on and take another fight. Despite frequently dismissing those calls, it seems that Chandler has now listened. After speaking with UFC CEO Dana White, Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox reported in a social media video that Chandler will indeed take a fight amid the uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s return.
That bout? A five-round rematch with former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on November 16.
CORRECTION: I just got off the phone with Dana White, and there was a slight misunderstanding here. Michael Chandler may still fight Conor in his return next year, but he’s taking another fight first…. https://t.co/HanYNbDN7ppic.twitter.com/zh8CqD6QGu
Chandler vs. Oliveira 2 Set Three Years On From Title Fight
The major news means Chandler (23-8) and Oliveira (34-10, 1 NC) will run back their May 2021 showdown, which came just two months before the most recent Octagon appearance for McGregor.
That bout marked the second UFC outing for Chandler, who debuted earlier in the year with an emphatic first-round knockout of Dan Hooker in Abu Dhabi. While the decision to grant him a shot caused debate, “Iron” came within inches of a title crowning in the opening round of the UFC 262 main event.
But after “Do Bronx” survived, he quickly landed a fight-changing left hook to drop Chandler seconds into round two, setting up a memorable TKO finish and securing championship glory for the Brazilian.
Oliveira has since fallen from the throne and failed to regain his place on it opposite Islam Makhachev. Most recently, the ex-champ was unsuccessful in his bid for number one contender status in narrow fashion against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 this past April.
Chandler, meanwhile, has had his hand raised just once, brutally knoking out Tony Ferguson in 2022. Aside from that, the 38-year-old has suffered defeats to Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, with his submission setback to the latter in November 2022 marking his last walk to the cage.
With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 309 are as follows:
Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler (lightweight co-main event)
Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov (light heavyweight)
Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders (middleweight)
Viviane Araújo vs. Karine Silva (women’s flyweight)
Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee (bantamweight)
Karine Silva vs. Viviane Araújo (women’s flyweight)
Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura (women’s flyweight)
Arman Tsarukyan defeated Charles Oliveira at UFC 300 to become the undisputed title challenger in the UFC lightweight division. The champion Islam Makhachev defended his belt against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302, so fans were looking forward to his return before the end of the year.
Unfortunately, a hand injury has forced Makhachev to be out of action until at least the end of 2024. The UFC might book an interim title fight in the meantime to avoid stalling the division, and Tsarukyan is naturally going to be one-half of it.
Despite winning a razor-close split decision against Oliveira at UFC 300, Tsarukyan is uninterested in fighting him again unless it’s for the title…
Arman Tsarukyan Rejects Official Decision And Claims To Have Beaten Charles Oliveira By Unanimous Decision
In an interview with Red Corner MMA, Tsarukyan revealed that he’s back in training and discussed what’s next for him while Makhachev recovers from injury.
Right away, Tsarukyan highlighted that his goal is to win the UFC title, regardless of the opponent. So, with the lightweight kingpin out because of injury, he’s ready to fight any top-5 ranked contender for interim gold.
When asked about how many people weren’t convinced by his latest victory, “Ahalkalakets” claimed that he beat Oliveira comfortably in the second and third rounds. The first round was close, but he strongly believes to have won the fight via unanimous decision.
“No, I did put a dot on it already. I beat him via unanimous decision in my opinion. In all of the rounds. Yes, the first round was 50-50 but the second and third were one-sided. I was taking him down, beating him up in the stand-up. So, if it’s a rematch in the interim title fight then I wouldn’t care. I’d fight anyone for the title.”
The stats don’t tell a different story either. Tsarukyan had over twice the significant strikes than “Do Bronxs” in their bout (49 to 19) and had 8 minutes 40 seconds of control time over Oliveira’s 2 minutes and 32 seconds. However, the Brazilian’s submission attempts definitely helped make the fight a lot closer than it seems.
Regardless, “Ahalkalakets” doesn’t think he has anything more to prove against Oliveira. He’ll be interested in a rematch only if winning it guarantees him interim gold.
And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Marcin Tybura vs. Serghei Spivac, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.
Men’s Pound-For-Pound: There was one change to the male P4P order this week and it comes toward the bottom, with Charles Oliveira (#14) getting boosted above his fellow former UFC champion Sean Strickland (#15).
Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.
Women’s Strawweight: No changes.
Women’s Flyweight: No changes.
Women’s Bantamweight: Macy Chiasson has received a late reward for her efforts at UFC 303 in late June, moving up one spot to #4 at 135 pounds at the expense of former title challenger Irena Aldana (#5).
Further down, Yana Santos has returned to the top 10 courtesy of her victory over Chelsea Chandler this past weekend, climbing above Miesha Tate (#11) and Pannie Kianzad (#12). the former of whom has dropped three positions. The defeated Chandler, meanwhile, remains clinging on to a ranking at #15 despite not boasting a single victory in the weight class.
Light Heavyweight: At 205 pounds, former title challenger Dominick Reyes has edged closer to the top 10, moving up to #13 and swapping positions with Bogdan Guskov (#14).
Heavyweight: Serghei Spivac returned to winning ways in Saturday’s main event, avenging his 2020 loss to Marcin Tybura by locking the Polish veteran in an armbar inside the opening minutes. As a result, “Polar Bear” has risen by two places to #7, where he’s met a man on the opposite trajectory in the great Stipe Miocic. The ex-champ has slipped another spot to share that step of the ladder with Spivac.
Charles Oliveira lost a razor-close decision to Arman Tsarukyan last time out at UFC 300, and he’s now looking for a new opponent.
With 19 post-fight bonuses, the Brazilian’s easily one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and there are several intriguing matchups for him.
Oliveira bagged the UFC lightweight championship by beating Michael Chandler in May 2021. He defended it against Dustin Poirier before being stripped after missing weight prior to his victory over Justin Gaethje.
Since failing to regain the title in his clash with Islam Makhachev, he’s defeated Beneil Dariush and is looking for another high-profile win to get a another shot at the gold.
From Makhachev to Colby Covington, here are all the fighters that Oliveira is open to facing in his UFC return…
Oliveira Eyes Rematch Against Makhachev, Also Open To Money Fights With McGregor, Covington, Poirier
Oliveira recently posted training footage on Instagram and asked his fans to choose his next opponent. He’s willing to fight the following names on the UFC roster:
Islam Makhachev
Arman Tsarukyan
Dustin Poirier
Conor McGregor
Max Holloway
Justin Gaethje
Alexander Volkanovski
Colby Covington
Alongside the list, Oliveira declared his intention to fight shortly.
“Who would you like to see me fight next? The Lion is ready!!”
“Do Bronx” has already fought Tsarukyan, Makhachev, Poirier, Gaethje, and Holloway. While Makhachev submitted him in the second, he fought through adversity to beat “The Diamond” and “The Highlight.” The fight with Holloway ended due to the Brazilian sustaining a shoulder injury, and fans could look forward to seeing the rematch more than ever now.
The other matchups on the list won’t necessarily move the needle in the UFC lightweight division. McGregor has lost three out of his last four fights and will most likely return to face Michael Chandler. Volkanovski, meanwhile, is 0-2 in the lightweight division and has yet to rematch Ilia Topuria for the UFC featherweight title.
Covington is another opponent that “Do Bronx” would fight to entertain the fans. The former interim UFC welterweight champion decisively lost to Leon Edwards in his last fight and appears unlikely to fight for the title again.
Regardless of the opponent, it is safe to assume that Oliveira will bring the fight to the Octagon and give fans another gritty performance.
Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 19, 2024, we’re taking a look at:
Jones targets November return
Oliveira gives back via charity auction once again
Cejudo says Cortez is better than she showed
Jon Jones Lays Out Specific Timeline For His Return Following Misdemeanour Charges
The UFC heavyweight champion was set to make his first title defense at UFC 295 last year in New York when facing off with Stipe Miocic.
When he withdrew due to injury, it was suspected that we could see “Bones” back one year later and that is his clear focus as of right now.
He posted the following message on X which with the specific timeframe of 16 weeks being mentioned, would schedule his return roughly for November 8th which is just three days out from being a full year since he was set to compete at UFC 295.
“Tomorrow, I’ll be 37 years old !! I’m 260 pounds 16 weeks away from fighting the most decorated heavyweight in UFC history. I feel like I’m in a great spot right before training camp ramps up. My form is far from perfect in these videos, but I’m happy with it considering the surgeries I recently had. 16 more weeks to become the beast , that’s exactly what I will do. #Champion2024.”
Tomorrow, I’ll be 37 years old !! I’m 260 pounds 16 weeks away from fighting the most decorated heavyweight in UFC history. I feel like I’m in a great spot right before training camp ramps up. My form is far from perfect in these videos, but I’m happy with it considering the… pic.twitter.com/kpns3gJOk4
Charles Oliveira Raises Huge Sum For Children In Need Via Signed Glove Charity Auction
Charles Oliveira is continuing to help raise money for charity by using his own star status in Brazil to benefit others.
“Do Bronx” took part in a charity auction several months ago that was hosted by soccer star Neymar Jr. where a fan won the opportunity to get special access to his fight preparations.
The latest auction saw Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. take up the hosting role where a signed glove from Oliveira was up for grabs.
Through this one small act, the former UFC champion was able to raise a staggering $80,000 to go towards supporting children in need.
A UFC glove signed by Charles Oliveira was auctioned off for $80,000 at a charity auction hosted by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. last night. 👏🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/YQM8VgErYS
Cejudo, who admitted that he was somewhat surprised by the way that Namajunas approached the fight, believes that Cortez didn’t have her best performance on the night.
He said on the Pound 4 Pound podcast that the replacement fighter didn’t play to her strengths enough in the fight which ended up costing her, stating that she will be back stronger after learning this lesson.
“Tracy didn’t show up, man. I just don’t know how to say it; man, that’s not the Tracy that we know. I watched the fight again, and she never once attempted the takedowns; after she attempted one takedown, that’s it, there’s no level changes involved. I talked to her on Saturday afterward and just said, ‘Hey, just keep your head up, dude. It was an experience, but I just know you’re better than that, Tracy’.”
The UFC matchmakers have been on a run since Conor McGregor pulled out of his fight against Michael Chandler at UFC 303. After successfully securing new main and co-main events, their next challenge is to either reschedule the original headliner or get Chandler to return against someone else.
“Iron” last fought in November 2022, and after waiting for McGregor for almost two years, he might be looking at alternatives. With that, he recently teased that a fight with Islam Makhachev is in the works, but there’s not a lot of optimism around it due to the challenger’s inactivity and record.
Chael Sonnen, though, would be glad to see Chandler fight for the UFC lightweight championship. However, he also expects other stars in the promotion to build a case for themselves…
Sonnen Lists Exciting Matchups For Islam Makhachev, Including Max Holloway & Charles Oliveira
“The American Gangster” discussed the possibility of Makhachev vs. Chandler happening in a video on his official YouTube channel.
Arman Tsarukyan is out untlil October due to a suspension for punching a fan while walking out at UFC 300. Thanks to a win over Oliveira on the same night, he would appear to be the only obvious contender in the division.
“This perfect storm, if you will, it has created an opportunity, not to be unmatched by the fact that no other 155-pounder seems to have a problem with it,” Sonnen said. “Like, I read something like Ilia Topuria says that Max Holloway won’t be available so they’re looking for another opponent. Let that go and move down a different road.
“That would be a fine example. Like, Max, as the BMF champ, challenge Islam or to speak up, or to get in the way of Chandler, would just be one of the many potential examples,” Sonnen added.
The BMF champ looked at his best against Justin Gaethje at UFC 300 as he scored an iconic last-second KO. “Do Bronx,” meanwhile isn’t out of the title picture as well, according to Sonnen, due to the close nature of his split decision defeat to Tsarukyan.
“Charles Oliveira, coming off of a loss, same as Chandler, who was in an elimination match with Tsarukyan, which was razor thin,” Sonnen stated. “And somebody somewhere in the world wants to see Charles Oliveira take on Islam. Like, it’d be a really good time for Charles to speak up. And I don’t have to go through each and every 155-pounder.”
UFC 302 title challenger Dustin Poirier is under no illusion about Khabib Nurmagomedov’s superiority on the night of September 7, 2019.
Poirier is currently days away from his third crack at reaching the undisputed lightweight throne on MMA’s biggest stage, He’s set to challenge the reign of Islam Makhachev in the main event of this weekend’s pay-per-view.
Inside Newark’s Prudential Center, “The Diamond” will look to avoid falling to the fate he did opposite Khabib in 2019 and Charles Oliveira two years later. In both the unification showdown with the Dagestani and title bid against the Brazilian, Poirier was submitted in round three.
While the results read almost exactly the same on paper, the Louisianan fan favorite looks back on them very differently…
Poirier Acknowlegdes He Wasn’t Ready To Handle Khabib’s Skills In 2019 Title Shot
During a recent fight week interview with ESPN MMA, Poirier previewed what could serve as both his final championship opportunity and last fight overall as an active competitor in the Octagon.
When assessing his previous title failures, “The Diamond” was asked whether he regrets certain moments in his defeats to “The Eagle” and “Do Bronx” in Abu Dhabi and Las Vegas, respectively.
“The Khabib fight, not really,” Poirier said. “Obviously I wish I would have performed better and won. But I was just outmatched, outgunned. I can say that honestly with where I’m at with my life and in fighting. I’m comfortable with saying that. I just wasn’t prepared the way I needed to be for what he was bringing.
“In the Charles fight, there’s more things that I look back at and say, ‘Damn, I shouldn’t have done that… I wish that didn’t happen,’” Poirier continued. “Yeah (mystique played a part against Khabib). I felt that the first time I fought Conor (McGregor) as well. I think I’m past that, the aura of people… fighting not only the person, but the crowd, the media, the critics. I don’t have that anymore. I’m fighting Islam.”
Following Saturday night, Poirier will be hoping to look back on his third chance at achieving undisputed champ status more positively.
Chael Sonnen believes Charles Oliveira should thank Tony Ferguson because without him, he wouldn’t have gotten the title shot.
At UFC 256 in December of 2020, Ferguson stepped up to face Oliveira on just a few weeks’ notice. It was an intriguing matchup as ‘El Cucuy’ was linked to Dustin Poirier and Michael Chandler before that. However, because he wanted to fight, Ferguson took the fight against Oliveira who was ranked below him. With that, Sonnen says Oliveira should be thanking Ferguson for the opportunity.
“One real cool move that Tony did, he did it for Charles Oliveira and I’ve never heard Charles thank Tony, he may have thanked him but I didn’t hear it,” Sonnen said on his YouTube channel (via Sportskeeda). “Oliveira was a really good fighter but he couldn’t get on a docket with one of the stars of the division. Tony was a star of the division, got up in the loft, threw the ladder down behind him so Charles could climb up.
Tony Ferguson vs. Charles Oliveira, UFC 256
“Charles gets done with Tony, Tony has gotta figure out what he’s gonna do, Charles goes into a world title fight, the rest is history – but Charles does not have a world title fight let alone a world championship if it’s not for Tony Ferguson,” Sonnen added.
After Charles Oliveira dominated Tony Ferguson for three rounds, he got the title shot against Chandler in May, on the same card Ferguson lost to Beneil Dariush. Oliveira ended up scoring a second-round KO to win the vacant belt and has since defended it with a submission win over Poirier.
Although Oliveira has cemented his status as the current best lightweight in the world, Sonnen hopes the Brazilian thanks Ferguson. He will have the chance to do so again as they will once again be on the same card as Oliveira will headline UFC 274 on May 7 against Justin Gaethje while Ferguson will take on Chandler in the co-main event.
Do you agree with Chael Sonnen that Charles Oliveira should thank Tony Ferguson?
UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler has revealed he’s picking champion Charles Oliveira to emerge victorious over Justin Gaethje at UFC 274.
Despite riding an eight-fight win streak this time last year, which included triumphs over Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson, not many would have expected Oliveira to accomplish the feats he did in 2021.
After Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, “Do Bronx” found himself opposite relative newcomer Chandler in a battle for 155-pound gold at UFC 262. After five minutes of main event action, Oliveira had been knocked down, beaten, and almost finished. Less than 20 seconds into round two, though, and the Brazilian turned the tide and TKO’d the former Bellator champion.
Gaethje secured his position as number one contender over the likes of Beneil Dariush and Islam Makhachev by getting the better of Chandler in a Fight of the Year-worthy contest last November at UFC 268. Having failed to reach the undisputed throne in a unification showdown against Khabib in 2019, “The Highlight” will hope it’s second-time lucky later this year.
But in his way will be a veteran of the sport who has proven everyone wrong in his recent outings. During an episode of DC & RC, Chandler praised Oliveira’s resurgence from a 10-8-1 record in his first 19 Octagon appearances to 10-0 since his loss to Paul Felder in 2017.
“I think a lot of people would agree with me when I say that I would not have given Charles Oliveira a chance at beating Justin Gaethje up until about the last 12 months,” said Chandler. “Charles Oliveira has come back, essentially from the dead; resurrected his career from the dead.
Sports Illustrated
“He was spotty up and down, could never be relied upon when it came to performances, and just, the way that he has turned into a deadly striker, as well as one of the greatest submission artists that the sport has ever seen, as well as going out there and finishing myself, going out there and finishing Dustin Poirier; that kind of stuff comes with a little bit of added extra confidence with each time he steps inside of the Octagon,” added Chandler.
Having faced both men in 2021, the #5-ranked Chandler is in a unique position to provide a prediction for the next lightweight title clash. While he knows full well how dangerous Gaethje can be, “Iron” believes Oliveira has “too many tools.”
“I think he’s gonna be the most confident Charles Oliveira that we have ever seen, after the year of 2021 that we just saw and him gaining that title and then defending that title, when he steps inside the Octagon against Justin Gaethje. But Justin Gaethje, we all know he’s a killer.
“I think it’s an extremely exciting fight. I still think I give the edge to Charles Oliveira, to be honest. He just has too many tools. And we all know how Justin Gaethje can win. But Charles Oliveira has also proven a lot of us and a lot of the doubters wrong, that he can be in there in those wars. He’s a lot tougher and a lot more resilient than we thought he was,” concluded Chandler.
While Oliveira’s reign advances towards a date with the #1-ranked lightweight on May 7, Chandler will be hoping to secure a potential rematch against either man in his own next appearance against Tony Ferguson on the same date.
Should the 35-year-old’s prediction come true at UFC 274, perhaps he’ll have the chance to exact revenge on Oliveira for their UFC 262 clash before the year is out.
Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 274, Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje?
Oliveira is coming off of his first successful title defense against Dustin Poirier at UFC 269. After withstanding an early barrage from Poirier, Oliveira was able to impose his will with his signature grappling and submit Poirier in Round 3.
Oliveira earned the then-vacant lightweight title over Michael Chandler at UFC 262 following dominant wins over Tony Ferguson and Kevin Lee.
Gaethje will get his second shot at the UFC lightweight title after losing to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254. He had earned the interim belt by defeating Ferguson at UFC 249 via fifth-round TKO.
Before getting the shot against Oliveira, Gaethje won a barnburner against Chandler at UFC 268. He won the fight via a unanimous decision in arguably one of the most exciting fights in UFC history.
While there isn’t any notable bad blood between Oliveira and Gaethje, there has been some verbal banter between the two sides. Gaethje has recently said that he plans to make Oliveira quit in their matchup, while Oliveira has called Gaethje a “phony” following their post-UFC 269 run-in.
The booking comes amidst an interesting lightweight title picture. Islam Makhachev is expected to face Beneil Dariush in a re-scheduled bout later this year, while Conor McGregor is looking to return in the summer.
UFC 274 is scheduled to take place at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, AZ on May 7.
What is your prediction for Charles Oliveira vs. Justin Gaethje?
