After 4 rounds of sustained dominance over Michael Chandler of their rematch on Saturday at UFC 309, former light-weight champion Charles Oliveira survived a livid rally within the fifth and ultimate spherical to place himself in premier place to safe a second shot on the 155-pound title.聽
Oliveira (35-10, 1 NC) went on to assert a unanimous resolution through scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 49-45 in an exciting co-main occasion bout inside New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard. The battle was the second assembly between two of probably the most thrilling fighters on the UFC roster after Oliveira captured the vacant light-weight title through second-round TKO towards Chandler (23-9) in 2021.
The grappling dominance of Oliveira, the 35-year-old native of Brazil, was on full show as he scored key takedowns in every of the primary 4 rounds and brutalized Chandler with elbows and fixed submission threats. However Chandler almost pulled off a rabid miracle in Spherical 5 that confirmed off his insane cardio and never-say-die perspective.聽
“[Chandler] is likely one of the hardest guys that I’ve ever fought,” Oliveira stated. “This man deserves to be right here. This man has my full respect.”聽
After his nook implored him to go for broke within the ultimate spherical, Chandler responded in a giant manner regardless of getting into the Octagon on a two-year layoff following a failed try and lure Conor McGregor right into a pay-per-view showdown after each fighters coached towards each other on “The Final Fighter” actuality sequence in 2023.聽
Chandler, 38, stuffed a takedown try and open Spherical 5 earlier than hurting Oliveira with a livid proper hand to the attention. Chandler wildly missed a follow-up punch that despatched each fighters to the bottom, however Chandler ended up on high and landed a sequence of punches and elbows to the again of Oliveira’s head however was by no means admonished by referee Keith Peterson.聽
After taking on high place inside Oliveira’s guard, Chandler continued with sharp elbows that put Oliveira on the verge of being completed. Though Oliveira was in a position to work again as much as his toes late within the spherical, Chandler rocked him once more with a left hand.聽
Within the ultimate minute of the battle, Oliveira landed a takedown and Chandler’s again till the diminutive and highly effective light-weight rose to his toes and twice dropped again right down to the canvas, slamming Oliveira behind him within the course of.聽
WHAT A WAY TO THE END FIGHT FOR MICHAEL CHANDLER AND CHARLES OLIVEIRA 馃憦 #UFC309 pic.twitter.com/vPy2Hu4CDh
鈥 SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 17, 2024
“All I understand how to do is throw American badass warning to the wind,” Chandler stated. “Madison Sq. Backyard, are you not entertained!?”
The ultimate spherical was a far cry from the primary 20 minutes of the battle as Oliveira’s poise and sharp putting was on full show. He damage Chandler repeatedly with flying knees and damaging elbows from high place on the bottom.聽
In Spherical 3, Oliveira twice threatened chokes after bodily dominating Chandler each on the toes and (even worse) on the bottom after one more profitable takedown.聽
UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev, who captured the title by submitting Oliveira in 2022, is predicted to defend his title towards Arman Tsarukyan in a rematch to open 2025. Oliveira dropped a break up resolution to Tsarukyan at UFC 300 in April.
“Hey, Hunter [Campbell], Mick [Maynard] and Dana [White], whoever is subsequent in line [to fight for the UFC lightweight title], I can be proper there within the first row in January,” Oliveira stated. “Whoever [wins], I can be subsequent in line.聽
“With all due respect, if you’re going to hit me, hit me onerous as a result of I will push via all the best way till the top.”
With the victory, Oliveira moved right into a second place tie for many wins in UFC historical past with 23. He solely trails 41-year-old Jim Miller who recorded his twenty seventh profession UFC win earlier within the evening on the undercard. 聽
