Michael Chandler has left fans buzzing throughout his UFC career, and he doesn’t expect that to change at UFC 309.
Even if it means stealing the thunder from the Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic main event.
Chandler co-headlines the Nov. 16 show opposite rival Charles Oliveira, who defeated Chandler for a vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in May 2021. Not only is Chandler looking for a measure of revenge, he’s also hoping to break the Madison Square Garden curse that goes back to his Bellator days.
“It’s OK, you can say it,” Chandler told New York Post Sports. “I’m 0-3 at Madison Square Garden, that’s OK, let’s just get that out of the way right now. Don’t be afraid to beat around the bush, I have never won inside of Madison Square Garden, so I’m deciding to change that this time.”
In his first fight at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” Chandler lost his lightweight championship to Brent Primus after suffering a leg injury in the opening round. He defeated Primus in their rematch at Bellator 212 to regain the title.
Chandler then fought two more times at Madison Square Garden, going five brutal and bloody rounds with Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 and clashing with Dustin Poirier in another memorable brawl at UFC 281. He’s hoping to be part of another memorable performance, and he told Jones that he plans to overshadow Jones’ long-awaited heavyweight title defense against Miocic.
“I saw Jon Jones at UFC 306 at the Sphere, he said, ‘Hi,’ we took a picture together, the main and co-main, and he’s like, ‘Hey man, make sure you save some excitement for me because I’m the main event?’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, probably not, man. I’m coming to steal the show.’
“I definitely thought about [my lack of success at Madison Square Garden), and it couldn’t have been scripted any better. To fight a guy, to beat a guy, who has now beaten me for the world title. I had one goal when I got into this sport, to be the No. 1 guy in the world. To be, widely regarded, unanimously, as the No. 1 guy in the world. Charles Oliveira stole that from me, beat me fair and square, but he stole that dream from me. Now I get the opportunity to right that wrong in my mind, show up a better fighter, get my hand raised, and then when I beat Charles Oliveira I am the highest ranked guy in the lightweight division not named Arman Tsarukyan or Islam Makhachev, who are fighting in most likely January people are talking about. So I’ll be cageside watching that fight, to watch who my next fight is, who I’m going to fight for the title.”
As for how he plans to beat Oliveira this time, he referred to a previous win he had over a former UFC champion at Bellator 165. On that November 2016 card, Chandler won a split decision over Benson Henderson, utilizing a strategy that might seem alien to fans who have only followed his UFC career.
Chandler has five rounds to work with at UFC 309, and he doubts Oliveira can keep up with him.
“With that same mindset, if I just put on a slow, steady pace, stay in his face, make him feel my presence, pick my shots, I can fight 25 minutes all day long,” Chandler said. “I can red line for 25 minutes, I’ve proven that numerous times, he’s never done that.
“I’m not going to ever say that Charles Oliveira is a quitter, like other people have. He’s shown that in the past, he’s quit here and there, but Charles Oliveira is a seasoned veteran. He’s a champion. He was a champion for years for a reason. He’s got a heart of gold and a heart of a champion, so I’m excited to go out there and fight 25 minutes. I hope I don’t. I I hope I don’t have to fight him for 25 minutes. I hope I get my hand raised within the first couple of rounds, but I’m prepared for it and I don’t know if he is.”
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Fighter vs. Writer. MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin and UFC veteran Matt Brown discuss the what to make of Belal Muhammad’s injury, whether Shavkat Rakhmonov could face Kamaru Usman, whether Jon Jones has to fight Tom Aspinall after UFC 309, and more.
Believe You Me. Michael Bisping talks how to save UFC 310, plus Dustin Poirier’s BMF hopes, and praise for Brandon Moreno and Erin Blanchfield’s big UFC Edmonton wins.
Soon?
Troublemaker! I soon come pic.twitter.com/R7ldlkFpRu
— KAMARU USMAN (@USMAN84kg) November 5, 2024
What a waste of cake.
High praise.
JoJo retrospective.
Sorry, eh.
Marathon man.
Elizeu Zaleski (24-8-1) vs. Zach Scroggin (7-0); UFC Vegas 100, Nov. 9
Jacqueline Cavalcanti (8-1) vs. Julia Avila (9-3); UFC Fight Night, Feb. 15
Ketlen Vieira (14-4) vs. Macy Chiasson (10-3); UFC Fight Night, Feb. 22
No matter how you feel about the election, please be kind to each other out there.
We’re all in this together.
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