Michael Chandler Ready to Steal the Show
Former UFC title challenger Michael Chandler has left fans buzzing throughout his career. Chandler doesn’t expect that to change as he heads into UFC 309. This would mean he would be stealing the thunder from UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and challenger Stipe Miocic.
Michael Chandler will be in the co-main event on November 16th when he faces off against Charles Oliveira. Oliveira was able to defeat Michael Chandler when the pair faced off for the vacant lightweight title back at UFC 262 in May 2021. Michael Chandler is not just looking to be able to get revenge for that day, however, he is also looking to break the Madison Square Garden curse. This goes all the way back to when Michael Chandler fought for Bellator. Speaking to the New York Post Michael Chandler said;
“It’s OK, you can say it,”
“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.”
Madison Square Garden Curse
During his first fight at Madison Square Garden, Michael Chandler lost his Bellator lightweight championship to Brent Primus. This was after Chandler suffered a leg injury in the opening round. However, he would later go on to defeat Brent Primus in the rematch at Bellator 212 to regain the title.
Michael Chandler would then go on to fight at Madison Square Garden two more times. The first was 5 brutal and bloody rounds when he faced Justin Gaethje at UFC 268. Chandler then clashed with Dustin Poirier in another memorable brawl at UFC 281. Chandler is hoping to be part of another memorable performance, and he has gone on to tell Jon Jones that he plans on overshadowing Jones’ long-awaited heavyweight title defence against Stipe Miocic. Speaking about it Chandler said;
“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.”
How Michael Chandler Plans on Defeating Oliveira This Time Around
As for how Chandler plans to defeat Oliveira this time around, he referred to a previous win of his at Bellator 165. On that card back in November 2016 Michael Chandler won due to a split decision victory over Benson Henderson. Chandler utilised a strategy that might seem alien to fans who have only watched his UFC career. During his fight at UFC 309 he will have 5 rounds to work with. Chandler doubts Oliveira will be able to keep up with him. Chandler talked about this when he said;
“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.”
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
