Michael Chandler sweats it out in gym with Charles Oliveira fight two months away: "Explosiveness and burnouts will make a man out of you"
Michael Chandler is currently gearing up for a rematch with Charles Oliveira, and just took to Instagram to share a clip of himself training for the anticipated bout with 'do Bronx.' The pair will serve as the co-main event of UFC 309, which is headlined by the return of Jon Jones.
'Bones' takes on the great Stipe Miocic in defense of his heavyweight strap. Meanwhile, Chandler will step into the octagon for the first time since Nov. 12, 2022, having spent the majority of his time preparing for a bout with Conor McGregor.
"Explosiveness and burnouts will make a man out of you. Walk On. See you at the top!"
Check out a clip of Michael Chandler's medicine ball workout:
Unfortunately for Chandler, the matchup with McGregor, which has been rumored since the announcement of The Ultimate Fighter 31 back in 2023, has fallen through. Chandler was warned of this fate beforehand by many of his UFC roster-mates, notably Arman Tsarukyan, who challenged 'Iron' in the past.
However, Chandler stuck to his hope that McGregor would indeed make it to the octagon. When the promotion announced the pair as the original headliners of UFC 303, 'Iron' took the opportunity to troll his detractors. This, however, backfired when McGregor withdrew from the event due to a broken toe.
Despite now being scheduled to face Oliveira, he is still holding out hope for an eventual matchup with McGregor. The fight, though, could slip through his fingers, especially with the likes of Dan Hooker now flirting with the idea of facing the Irishman himself.
Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira had one of the best fights at UFC 262
Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira have fought before. At UFC 262, the two men clashed over the vacant lightweight title.
Round one featured a largely dominant performance from Chandler, who rocked Oliveira and even knocked him down. Unfortunately, 'Iron' was unable to finish him.
Check out Michael Chandler's loss to Charles Oliveira:
In round two, he was caught by a perfectly-timed check hook by Oliveira, which floored him. The Brazilian pounced with follow-up punches, dropping him again before scoring the TKO to capture lightweight gold.