Michael Chandler last fought in November 2022 and lost via third-round submission to Dustin Poirier. Because the fight was a back-and-forth brawl like his usual bouts, he didn't lose his appeal and was soon booked to welcome back Conor McGregor to the UFC.
McGregor and Chandler shot The Ultimate Fighter 31, but it never translated into a fight as the Irishman was first busy shooting Roadhouse and then pulled out of UFC 303 because of a toe injury. Chandler had been waiting on the sidelines but he's now snapped out of it to fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.
Both Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen believe that fighting "Do Bronxs" is not at all optimal for Chandler...
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Sonnen and Cormier discussed the UFC 309 co-main event on a recent episode of Good Guy / Bad Guy on the ESPN MMA YouTube channel. Both UFC greats appreciated "Iron" for moving on from the Dubliner as the latter has shown no real proof of returning to the Octagon lately.
Having said that, both Sonnen and DC are concerned about Chandler facing Oliveira after a nearly two-year-long layoff. While he's been sitting out, "Do Bronxs" has knocked out Beneil Dariush and given Arman Tsarkuyan one of his toughest fights yet.
Here are Cormier's two cents on Chandler's UFC 309 return:
Chandler will never get a bigger fight, but he did get a tougher fight. Charles Oliveira is still fighting at the top of the game. Charles Oliveira was scheduled to fight for the world championship and then got hurt with the big cut. Charles Oliveira fought Tsarukyan and fought him competitively who is now fighting for the world championship. These guys are as good as they come. Michael Chandler, though, has sat, and that's the problem.
Chandler nearly knocked out Oliveira early during their first outing. However, according to Cormier, he might not be equally effective or explosive after not being inside the Octagon for almost 24 months.
"The American Gangster" also remembered that the McGregor fight was supposed to happen at 170 pounds. On the other hand, Chandler will have to weigh in at 155 pounds for Oliveira which is an additional mental and physical burden, to say the least.
Here's what Sonnen thinks about the UFC 309 co-main event:
Charles Oliveira is a rough night out. Not to mention, it's a match they've already done. You don't get better at a sport by not doing it. Chandler's been on the side lines waiting to do it, I got to think that Oliveira is a meaningful favorite here. I would think the line's only about two to one and a half but I think those people are going to be very confident. I like that he's back. It's a very tough night out.
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