Michael Chandler’s trademark phrase, “See you at the top” exemplifies his boundless confidence. But when it comes to Charles Oliveira, the former Bellator found himself on the ground. And that too in defeat! It is safe to say that the rematch at UFC 309 carried even more weight than their initial 155lbs title encounter. For the Brazilian, it was a fight to cement his legacy; for Chandler, it was a shot at redemption. The loss wasn’t merely a setback on paper—Oliveira also had sharp words regarding Chandler’s conduct during the fight.
Speaking to Shakiel Mahjouri on SHAK MMA’s YouTube channel ahead of UFC 311, Oliveira addressed the controversy head-on through a translator. The former 155lbs champ remarked, “His [Michael Chandler] greatest moment was poking me in the eye at the end over there but you know I was really happy really satisfied with everything that I did and it does motivate me it makes me a bigger man to be able to go in there and step for the title.”
Despite a knee injury before the bout, Oliveira expressed satisfaction with his performance at the MSG event. However, he did not shy away from calling out illegal shots by Chandler, citing blows to the back of the head and fence grabbing as concerning tactics. But the question looms—can Oliveira reassert his dominance?
While his win over Chandler strengthens his position, there’s a new potential challenge on the horizon: Ilia Topuria. The featherweight phenom has hinted at ambitions to climb the divisional ladder, which could spell trouble for the lightweight veteran. The speculation doesn’t stop there as several others weighed in on the topic. Let’s see what they had to say!
What does the MMA community think about a potential Oliveira vs. Topuria bout?
The AKA head coach Javier Mendez didn’t hold back while discussing a potential showdown between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria during a recent appearance on Submission Radio. He asserted, “Charles is not an easy fight for anybody,” before expressing his preference for Topuria due to his striking precision and knockout power. “I slightly favor Ilia because of his power and his boxing precision,” Mendez noted.
While acknowledging the Brazilian’s formidable submission game and dangerous knee strikes, Mendez maintained that Topuria’s pinpoint accuracy in the stand-up game gives him an edge. Despite Oliveira’s impressive resume, his previous loss to Islam Makhachev at UFC 280 remains a lingering setback. Still, many in the MMA community believe Oliveira is far from done proving himself.
Interestingly, even rising featherweight prospect Austin Bashi believes Oliveira has what it takes to prevail. In an exclusive interview with Andrew Whitelaw for EssentiallySports, Bashi confidently predicted, “Oliveira will get the finish.” Oliveira’s reputation speaks for itself, holding the UFC record for most finishes at 20. His ability to adapt and dominate in high-pressure scenarios makes him a constant threat.
However, Topuria, undefeated across 16 fights, has already left a significant mark on the sport—delivering Max Holloway his first KO loss being one of his crowning achievements. So, who has the upper hand in this potential battle? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
The post “His Greatest Moment Was Poking Me in the Eye” – Michael Chandler Faces Charles Oliveira’s Cold Verdict on UFC 309 Loss appeared first on EssentiallySports.