Back at UFC 262, lightweight superstar Charles Oliveira was badly hurt by Michael Chandler in the first round before a stunning comeback saw him eventually exit the Toyota Center with the stoppage win.
Despite earning the knockout victory in the most dramatic of circumstances, Charles Oliveira remains confident that he can better that performance in their upcoming rematch at UFC 309.
Charles Oliveira previews his upcoming UFC 309 rematch with Michael Chandler
Speaking to MMA Fighting earlier this week, the former lightweight world champion was cool, calm, and collected as he previewed his upcoming showdown with ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler.
“I’m ready, happy, very ready,” Oliveira said through a translator, teasing that despite earning the stunning second-round knockout at UFC 262, he’s prepared to put on an even better performance at UFC 309 this coming weekend.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, the spirit of that [first] fight [is with me] and it’s just always [about] getting to this fight, pushing forward, coming out with the win, and to make sure that my hand is raised.”
Whilst Chandler has hinted that he’s going to utilize a ‘different approach’ in the hope of correcting the tactical mistakes he made in their first fight, Oliveira is ready to improve on that second-round KO.
“Listen, we train all the time, we try to get ready. I want to be ready, but our idea is to be better. It doesn’t matter what we did before, we are going to be better than the last time.
“That’s what I do. That’s what I train for, and no matter what happens, I want to have my hand raised on Saturday…. I don’t know what to expect [from him], I know that he’s a tough guy but I’m ready for him.”
Charles Oliveira is hunting not one, but two UFC championship titles in 2025
Should Oliveira go two-for-two over Chandler, he’ll likely be confirmed as the number one contender for the lightweight title, with champion Islam Makhachev expected to face Arman Tsarukyan in January 2025.
“Listen, I’m ready, happy, very motivated [and] I’m just waiting for the day to come,” teased the Brazilian, acknowledging that he’s still on the hunt to recapture his old UFC belt.
“I just love the opportunity [to fight at UFC 309]. I’m always ready for a fight and I think that whatever the UFC says, I’m ready to go… They know I’m ready to fight and I know that I’m winning this fight and I’m next in line [for the title] – that’s how I feel.”
Yet there’s another UFC title that could be floating around lightweight next year, with BMF champion Max Holloway recently confirming that he’s set to permanently move up to 155lbs following his KO loss to Ilia Topuria last month.
“I’m [all] about legacy,” Oliveira responded to the suggestion that he could soon find himself standing opposite Holloway with the silver-plated strap on the line: “That’d be great, so why not?
“As I’m talking about [legacy], I mean, being the BMF champion would be gigantic for that.”
Holloway and Oliveira clashed (at featherweight) all the way back in 2015, although it wasn’t much of a contest as ‘Do Bronx’ suffered a neck injury just a few minutes into the fight.
In either case, it’s safe to say that Oliveira has some big plans for 2025, but it all starts with Michael Chandler – UFC 309 goes down live from Madison Square Garden on November 16.