Michael Chandler talks "ring rust", doubts 'fast start' against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309
Michael Chandler will make his much-awaited octagon return as he rematches former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309. While 'Iron' is traditionally known for a shock and awe approach, putting pressure on his opponents right off the bat, the 37-year-old doubts if it'll be so this time.
Chandler was last seen in his third-round submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. While he was linked to a clash with Conor McGregor for the longest time since then, it never materialized. This means 'Iron' has been inactive for almost two years at this point.
During an interview with veteran combat sports journalist Kevin Iole in the lead-up to UFC 309, 'Iron' expressed his doubts on whether he'd be the fast starter he's always been against Oliveira:
"You know we'll see [if I'll start fast against Oliveira], you never really know, that's the beautiful thing about this sport, you never really know. Nobody will ever know until that cage door closes right?... [That being said] I'm still going to be vintage Michael Chandler. Still going to be the most exciting guy at Madison Square Garden, still going to steal the show, still going to keep people on the edge of their seats, but it's going to be in a very interesting fashion."
Furthermore, the former Bellator three-time lightweight champion teased significant improvements to his overall game, saying:
"I believe it's going to be the most masterful performance that anybody has ever seen out of me, and it took me 15 years, almost 16 years to really put it together... I've got no worries at all about quote, unquote ring rust. I was born for this, I was built for this."
Check out Michael Chandler's comments below (3:25):
Michael Chandler explains what excites him about Charles Oliveira rematch
While his first clash against Charles Oliveira did not go his way, Michael Chandler is not worried, but excited to rematch 'do Bronx' come weekend.
During an appearance on the Bussin With The Boys podcast, 'Iron' explained that despite being "scared" of going up against one of UFC's most decorated grapplers, his general approach to life makes the fight all the more alluring to him:
"It's a dangerous fight. It scares the hell out of me man. Charles Oliveira can choke all seven of us out right now. It's a scary fight and those are the type of circumstances that I like. I like opportunities in which the likelihood of failure is higher than I'm comfortable with. Those are the type of fights I want not just in the octagon, but in life."
Check out Michael Chandler's comments below: