Over the years, the UFC community has seen multiple intriguing matchups that create excitement around the UFC arena. One such interesting matchup is between lightweight fighters Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira, which never disappoints. Although Chandler has faced defeat twice, he remains confident in his ability to beat Oliveira.
Their initial encounter happened at UFC 262 and the rematch happened three years later at the recent UFC 309 fight card. Interestingly, on both occasions, Oliveira thrashed Chandler. Similar to his previous defeat, the American fighter reflected on his loss. His words indicated disappointment with the poor showing at the Madison Square Garden.
I am not happy with my performance. I would give myself a two out of ten. I cannot overstate how horrible of a performance this was or set of circumstances it was after that first round, compared to what my vision waas for what I’m capable of. And I believe I beat Charles Oliveira nine out ten.
Michael Chandler via The Ariel Helwani Show
Unlike their previous encounter, the fight between UFC 309 lasted for five rounds and was filled with several contentious moments. It even turned into a meme-fest, featuring Chandler running away from Oliveira inside the octagon.
🗣️ Michael Chandler: “I believe I beat Charles Oliveira 9 times out of 10.”
🎥 @arielhelwani #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/b2cRV68Gyf
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) November 27, 2024
Additionally, a controversial incident in the fifth round garnered significant attention when Chandler landed some shots to the back of Oliveira’s head, which caught the eye of viewers everywhere. Several fighters, including Oliveira, believed that an illegal strike had occurred and expected the referee to intervene. However, the referee did not call it, and the fight continued.
Chandler maintained his innocence, insisting that he had done nothing wrong. Amidst this, the American fighter was unable to secure a victory and was defeated by Oliveira once again. Following this loss, Chandler shared a message on his social media.
Michael Chandler looks back to his loss against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309
‘Iron’ Michael Chandler has faced off against formidable opponents, including Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. Despite experiencing several defeats against these top competitors, Chandler approached his recent fight against Oliveira with confidence. As such, he hoped to redeem himself after his previous loss to the Brazilian fighter.
Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira in action at UFC 309 (Image via UFC)With confidence, Chandler entered the UFC octagon to face Oliveira at UFC 309. However, he was unable to perform as he had anticipated in the fight. Consequently, Chandler got a losing streak for the second time in the promotion. He didn’t spend much time reflecting on his defeat. Instead, a disappointed Chandler took to social media to share his thoughts.
Head up, smile on, heart full in the face of whatever comes our way. Many aspects of a fight can be debated about and replayed ad nauseam, but one thing that will never be up for debate is that we prepared to the best of our abilities with zero wavering or concessions…
Michael Chandler via Instagram
Following his recent defeat, Chandler is now on a two-fight losing streak. While he once envisioned a championship run in 2025, that dream now seems uncertain. Nevertheless, there may still be a fight with Conor McGregor on the horizon. It will be interesting to see how Chandler’s situation unfolds in the coming months.
