Tag: Michael Chandler

Overreaction Time: UFC 309 bold predictions, plus will Jake Paul embarrass Mike Tyson?

Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” looking ahead to Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, and more.

The time for overreacting is here!

Check out the latest episode of “Overreaction Time” at noon ET/9 a.m. PT as host Simon Samano and MMA Junkie reporter Danny Segura debate these “overreactions” on the following topics in mixed martial arts:

  • [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] will finish [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] at UFC 309, no doubt about it.
  • Jones’ legacy will take a hit if he loses to Miocic.
  • Sorry, [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag], but Jones definitely should fight [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] if he wins at UFC 309.
  • [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] WILL steal the show at UFC 309.
  • [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag] is poised to have a breakout performance at UFC 309.
  • [autotag]Mike Tyson[/autotag] is about to embarrass himself against[autotag] Jake Paul[/autotag].

Watch the full episode in the video above.

Tom Aspinall: UFC 309’s Michael Chandler has to be ‘one of the most frustrating people to coach ever’

Tom Aspinall enjoys watching Michael Chandler fight, but can’t imagine how his corner feels.

[autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] enjoys watching [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] fight, but can’t imagine how his corner feels.

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) runs things back with Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Chandler has earned four bonuses in five octagon appearances, thrilling fans with incredible knockouts and barnburners. With a decorated collegiate wrestling background and dynamite in his hands, Chandler is an all-around threat, but Aspinall thinks the former Bellator champion doesn’t always lean on the necessary skillset when he competes.

“I think Mike Chandler, especially, he’s got to be one of the most frustrating people to coach ever,” Aspinall told TNT Sports. “Tactics when he fights are just completely out the window, and he just goes for it. He’s just basically having a street fight with a pair of gloves on. It’s fantastic to watch.”

Aspinall, however, does appreciate the entertainment Chandler always provides.

“He just fights with pure aggression and athleticism, really,” Aspinall said. “Obviously, he’s very technical, but he chooses not to use that in a way. For me, sometimes I love technique. I love the finesse of fighting. But sometimes, just like anybody else, I just like to watch a good scrap. So this guy’s entertainment every time.”

Chandler lost his first outing against Oliveira by knockout in their vacant lightweight title fight in May 2021. Chandler was able to drop Oliveira in Round 1, which also included submission threats from both sides. However, Oliveira rallied to take Chandler out in the opening seconds of Round 2.

Aspinall expects their rematch to be just as wild.

“Put these two guys in, you close the octagon doors, you ring the bell, and it’s just going to be absolute chaos,” Aspinall said. “I’m looking forward to being cageside for that one.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

UFC 309 ‘Embedded,’ No. 1: Chris Weidman home show means fight week landscaping

The UFC is back in New York, which means Chris Weidman gets to fight at home and doesn’t have to travel – opening the door for yard work.

The UFC is back in New York for UFC 309, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.

In the headliner, heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) puts his title on the line for the first time when he takes on former champ [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in a fight delayed by a year. In the co-feature, former lightweight champ [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) takes on [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) after he was left at the altar by Conor McGregor.

The first episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Heavyweight champ Jon Jones arrives in Las Vegas and goes to UFC Fight Night; Bo Nickal is kicking it with his team; Charles Oliveira trains in Brazil; Michael Chandler has oxygen therapy at home; Chris Weidman does yard work; Stipe Miocic has a pasta dinner with his family.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Video: UFC 309 ‘Countdown’ for Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira

Check out the UFC 309 “Countdown” main event video preview for Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira.

Did you miss the debut of UFC 309 “Countdown” or just want to watch it again? Check out the co-main event preview now.

The segment takes a special look at the lightweight fight between [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and former champion [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC).

UFC 309 (pay-per-view, ESPNews/Hulu/FX, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. “Countdown” goes behind the scenes with the two fighters, and you can watch the full segment above. And don’t miss the entire episode in the video below.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Michael Chandler predicts opponents after Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 – and shoots for the moon

Michael Chandler is looking to make up for lost time with “the craziest four- or five-fight run” after UFC 309.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] is looking to make up for lost time after UFC 309.

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) returns for the first time since November 2022 when he rematches Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) in the Nov. 16 co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

He spent a year waiting to fight [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] after filming Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” and after finally getting a date at UFC 303 in July, the fight was scrapped after McGregor withdrew due to a broken pinky toe.

Chandler decided to move on, but still has McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) in his sights.

“The title is the No. 1 goal, but there is some unfinished business,” Chandler told CBS Sports. “Chandler vs. McGregor, ‘TUF 31,’ that chapter needs to close at some point. Conor wants that fight. He’s talked about it openly in public, in interviews. Obviously I want that fight. I’m not focused on it right now. I’m focused on Charles, but it’ll be interesting.”

Chandler is also eyeing other mega fights in the lightweight division – a title fight with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), as well as Max Holloway (26-7 MMA, 22-7 UFC), who will now be permanently competing at 155 pounds.

“You’ve also got to remember, Islam is fighting probably in January, could be late January,” Chandler said. “He’s going to go into Ramadan in February, all of March, won’t be able to go training camp til April, won’t be able to fight til June, July.

“I’m not trying to wait til June or July. So Conor could sneak in there. We could see Chandler vs. Oliveira, Chandler vs. Conor, Chandler vs. Islam, Chandler vs. Max – the craziest four- or five-fight run in a 12-month period that anyone’s ever seen.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Michael Chandler claps back at Arman Tsarukyan: ‘Islam Makhachev absolutely smokes him’

Michael Chandler returned fire after Arman Tsarukyan’s most recent jab.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] returned fire after [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag]’s most recent jab.

Tsarukyan has continuously poked at Chandler’s fight IQ and recently told MMA Junkie that he’s an easy fight for Charles Oliveira. Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) rematches Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) in the Nov. 16 co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) is currently linked to a title fight with lightweight champion [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) on Jan. 18 at UFC 311, although nothing is confirmed. Chandler was respectful toward Tsarukyan for the most part in his response but made sure to sneak in his own jab right at the end.

“He’s just a young, hungry dude making his presence be known,” Chandler told the New York Post. “He’s matured. He’s got some great wins. His last win was over Oliveira, my next opponent, so he’s earned this title shot. This is going to be a rematch with him and Islam. He’s doing his thing, but yeah, he doesn’t like me, says bad things about me. After he beat Oliveira, I actually went back and congratulated him. It’s one of those things where I don’t hold any animosity towards anybody. I’ve had my spats with Poirier.

“I’ve had my spats with these different guys in the past. I enjoy competing against people whether they like me or don’t like me. I’m going to always operate like I don’t necessarily like my opponent, but I don’t have anything against him. I don’t go into the octagon with any malice or ill-will in my heart. That’s where I perform the best. Like I said, a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter, and that’s my own personal anecdote of my career thus far, but Arman’s doing his thing. I wish him well. I think Islam absolutely smokes him, but at least he’s got great hair.”

Chandler is seeking redemption against Oliveira. The pair met for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in May 2021, where Oliveira rallied to knock out Chandler in Round 2.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Michael Chandler plans ‘to steal the show’ from Jon Jones at UFC 309

Michael Chandler told Jon Jones directly what he plans on doing at UFC 309.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] promises fireworks at UFC 309.

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) runs things back with Charles Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) in the Nov. 16 co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Chandler’s five UFC appearances have included four bonuses, and he sees the opportunity to avenge his loss to Oliveira no differently. He even warned said he will outshine UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] just before Jones makes his first title defense against former champ Stipe Miocic.

“It’s a huge blessing to be considered for the Madison Square Garden card. They don’t just throw anybody on the Madison Square Garden card,” Chandler told the New York Post. “The UFC puts guys and gals on the fight card that are going to put on a great show.

“I saw Jon Jones at UFC 306 at the Sphere. We said hi, took a picture together, you know, the main and co-main and he’s like, ‘Hey, man, make sure you save some excitement for me because I’m the main event.’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, probably not, man. I’m coming to steal the show.'”

Chandler on time off: ‘I really needed it’

Chandler hasn’t competed since a submission loss to Dustin Poirier in November 2022. He was scheduled to welcome Conor McGregor back to the octagon at UFC 303 in June, but McGregor withdrew due to injury. It’s been a long time without competing for Chandler, with many criticizing him for wasting his time by waiting on McGregor.

But after all these wars, Chandler looks at the time off as a blessing in disguise.

“Having that much time off, I needed it. I really needed it,” Chandler said. “Six training camps in a 26-month period, every single fight was do or die. Top three, top-five guy, world title fights, Fights of the Night, Fights of the Year, and I love the sport. I am so blessed to do the sport of mixed martial arts as a professional and get paid for it and feed my family with it, but it was taking a toll on me. I needed some time off.”

Chandler in search of redemption vs. Oliveira

In his first fight with Oliveira, Chandler came close to tasting UFC gold when he dropped and badly hurt him. However, “Do Bronx” was able to rally and stop Chandler by TKO just 19 seconds into Round 2 to claim the vacant title at UFC 262.

Chandler vows things will be different in their rematch.

“I just wasn’t where I needed to be,” Chandler said of his first fight with Oliveira. “I went in there very confident, I put in a great training camp, but I went out there to try and kill Charles Oliveira in the first second of the first round, 10-8’d him in the first round, and I just wasn’t able to keep that pace.

“I made a bad decision, put myself in some bad spots. I wasn’t fighting to the best of my ability, and I’ve since fixed all of those things, mainly mentally and spiritually, and I just think it’s going to be a masterful performance. I think I’m going to surgically and systematically break this man down until he looks for the exit sign.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

UFC 309 full fight card announced for Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic event

How would you rate UFC 309 on a scale of 1-10?

With UFC 308 in the books, the promotion’s attention turns to its yearly New York pay-per-view.

UFC 309 takes place Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden and is headlined by a highly anticipated heavyweight title fight between champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] and former champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag].

During the UFC 308 broadcast Saturday, the promotion officially announced the full 13-fight lineup with five main card fights and eight prelims. The main card takes place on ESPN+ pay-per-view after prelims on ESPNews and ESPN+.

In the co-main event, lightweight stars [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] and [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] throw down in a five-round bout. The main card rounds out with [autotag]Viviane Araujo[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Karine Silva[/autotag], [autotag]Paul Craig[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag], and [autotag]Eryk Anders[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag].

The featured prelim is currently half-unknown with [autotag]Mauricio Ruffy[/autotag] in need of a replacement for the withdrawn [autotag]Charlie Campbell[/autotag].

Other notable prelims include [autotag]Nikita Krylov[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Azamat Murzakanov[/autotag], [autotag]Jonathan Martinez[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Marcus McGhee[/autotag], and [autotag]Damon Jackson[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jim Miller[/autotag].

Check out the full UFC 309 lineup below:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

  • Champion Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for heavyweight title
  • Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira – five-round bout
  • Viviane Aruajo vs. Karine Silva
  • Paul Craig vs. Bo Nickal
  • Eryk Anders vs. Chris Weidman

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPNews, 8 p.m. ET)

  • Mauricio Ruffy vs. TBA
  • Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov
  • Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee
  • Damon Jackson vs. Jim Miller

EARLY PRELIMINARY CARD

  • Lucas Almeida vs. David Onama
  • Ramiz Brahimaj vs. Mickey Gall
  • Oban Elliott vs. Bassil Hafez
  • Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Arman Tsarukyan: Michael Chandler is ‘No. 1 easy fight for Charles Oliveira’ at UFC 309

Arman Tsarukyan thinks the UFC lightweight division is trending toward a championship rematch between himself and Charles Oliveira in 2025.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] thinks the UFC lightweight division is trending toward a championship rematch between himself and [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag] in 2025.

Tsarukyan (22-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) expects to claim the 155-pound belt from Islam Makhachev (26-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC) during their expected meeting in January or February of next year. Before that happens, though, Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) will have a rematch of his own with [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at UFC 309 on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

There has been no love lost between Tsarukyan and Chandler in recent months. Tsarukyan was one of the harshest critics of Chandler waiting nearly two years for a Conor McGregor fight to materialize, and Chandler has clapped back on multiple occasions.

Chandler claims his fight against Oliveira is a title eliminator and the winner will get whoever emerges with the belt between Tsarukyan and Makhachev. There’s potential for a fun build for a Tsarukyan vs. Chandler fight, but the current top contender just doesn’t see it happening.

“Michael Chandler is going to lose for sure,” Tsarukyan told MMA Junkie. “He’s the No. 1 easy fight for Charles Oliveira. He’s going to choke him out or knock him out. He’s easy money for Oliveira, so I’m so happy for him.”

Tsarukyan said if both he and Oliveira get the job done, they would run it back. Their first meeting took place at UFC 300 in April with Tsarukyan taking a split decision. He thinks the UFC brass would have no problem running it back.

“After the fight Oliveira is going to be the next after me,” Tsarukyan said. “I’m going to fight with Islam and then after that fight he’s for sure going to fight for the title. He has a big name, he was the champion and UFC loves him.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.

Conor McGregor-Dan Hooker verbal agreement is of no concern to Michael Chandler

Michael Chandler doubts Conor McGregor and Dan Hooker will end up fighting each other.

[autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] doubts [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] and [autotag]Dan Hooker[/autotag] will end up fighting.

Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) was scheduled to welcome McGregor back to the octagon at UFC 303 in June, but the bout was scrapped after McGregor withdrew because of a broken pinky toe. Chandler decided to move on and is scheduled to rematch Charles Oliveira in the UFC 309 co-main event Nov. 16 in New York.

That leaves McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) without an opponent, but “The Notorious” recently declared that his return will now be against Dan Hooker (24-12 MMA, 14-8 UFC) in February after the pair verbally agreed to fight during the BKFC Marbella event this past Saturday.

Chandler, however, isn’t buying it.

“Conor’s a very flavor-of-the-week kind of guy,” Chandler said on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” “He just had a conversation with Dan Hooker. Everybody knows Dan Hooker’s an awesome dude. You can sit there and have a beer with him, a Forged Irish Stout, in the middle of a squared ring and be like, ‘Hey, man. I like you, you like me, we can make some magic, let’s fight each other.’

“I looked no further than that, honestly. Dan Hooker’s in the top five now. And if anything, it strengthens my case that I deserve to be in that top five, top six anyway because I have a win over him in my debut. So, I’m happy for Dan Hooker.”

Chandler still has plans of fighting McGregor and thinks the UFC prefers this matchup for McGregor’s comeback.

“I don’t think the UFC’s going to be very keen on McGregor vs. Hooker compared to McGregor vs. Chandler since we need to make this fight happen,” Chandler said. “I’m not really that worried about it.

“It’s been up in the air for the better part of two years. So, I’m not going to spend any time or energy or effort worrying about it. The good thing is I have a great job to do in front of me, and that’s Nov. 16 in Charles Olivera.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 309.