Former UFC lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler had a lot of praise for Charles Oliveira’s performance at UFC 289, and hopes he will get another crack at the former champ.
From their vacant lightweight title fight at UFC 262, Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) knows firsthand what it’s like to be in the cage with Oliveira (34-9 MMA, 22-9 UFC). That night, Oliveira defeated Chandler in the second round by knockout to become champion.
Despite that result, Chandler has kept an eye on his former foe, and offered a glowing critique of Oliveira’s most recent performance, a first-round stoppage of Beneil Dariush in the co-main event of UFC 289.
“Guys, Charles Oliveira is an absolute savage,” Chandler said in a video posted to his YouTube channel. “Charles Oliveira vs. Beneil Dariush; Dariush on a long win streak, Charles Oliveira obviously with a ton of fire still in his belly wanting to get that UFC title. Charles Oliveira showed up under the brightest lights, the biggest opportunity, a title eliminator to get him back to a title shot. And it remains to be seen if he will get the next title shot against Islam Makhachev, but the way that he fought Saturday night at UFC 289, the dude looks like he is coming back for that title.”
While breaking down every moment of the fight at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Chandler was impressed with the way Oliveira navigated the fight against Dariush, who entered on a hot streak as a winner of eight straight fights and someone who was promised a title shot with a victory. Oliveira doused those flames and put himself in position to earn another title shot instead.
“The biggest thing that needs to be said about this performance: This is a title eliminator. This is Charles Oliveira staking his claim that I am one of the best lightweights on the planet,” Chandler said. “He’s proven it time and time again. Charles Oliveira 2.0 was our champion for four fights or so. Finishing (Dustin) Poirier, finishing myself, finishing (Justin) Gaethje. Obviously, losing to Makhachev. But this was a statement fight.”
Chandler hopes he will be able to get another crack at Oliveira one day. After filming “The Ultimate Fighter Season 31” opposite Conor McGregor as coaches on the long-running reality series, the expectation is Chandler will face “The Notorious” in the cage later this year, although the fight has yet to be made official.
Oliveira has his eyes on a rematch with Makhachev, but depending on how things play out over the next year, a rematch between Oliveira and Chandler could be possible.
“I hope to share the octagon with him again, eventually,” Chandler said about Oliveira. “I would like to run that one back, obviously. But the way he looked that night against Dariush (at) UFC 289 was absolutely masterful. Hat’s off to you Charles, God bless. See you at the top.”
