The co-main event of UFC 309 sees former undisputed lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and former title challenger Michael Chandler renew their rivalry, with both men looking to bounce back after key setbacks in their respective careers.
It’s a matchup that could well determine who will fight for the undisputed UFC lightweight title in 2025 and should deliver another crowd-pleasing clash for the fight fans at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 16.
MORE: UFC 309 fight card – Jones vs. Miocic, Chandler vs. Oliveira 2 headline Madison Square Garden event
Charles Oliveira is looking to battle back to the title
After spending most of his early career attempting to break into championship contention at featherweight, Oliveira’s problems making weight convinced him to move to lightweight in 2017. It proved to be an inspired decision, as the Brazilian went from an entertaining but inconsistent mid-card player to a legitimate championship threat at 155 pounds.
In an incredible 11-fight run, Oliveira took on and defeated a host of UFC lightweight contenders, including Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson, Chandler, Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje. His win over Chandler saw him capture the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in a fight that saw him come back from nearly being finished in Round 1 to stopping the American in Round 2.
Despite winning his fight against Gaethje at UFC 274 in Phoenix, Arizona, Oliveira missed weight by half a pound at the official weigh-ins and, as a result, was stripped of his title on the scale. It meant that, despite his victory, the title would remain vacant. In his bid to recapture the crown against top contender Islam Makhachev at UFC 280, he succumbed to a second-round arm-triangle choke submission in Abu Dhabi.
Since that loss, Oliveira has been on a quest to return to championship contention and a potential rematch with Makhachev. He bounced back with a first-round TKO of Beneil Dariush at UFC 289, but an agonising split-decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300 saw his hopes of a late-2024 title shot fall by the wayside.
Now “Do Bronx” is looking to put himself back in line for a title shot by delivering another eye-catching performance in his rematch with Chandler in New York on November 16.
Michael Chandler wants a second shot at gold
Michael Chandler’s run in the UFC could best be described as a rollercoaster. The American former college wrestling standout captured lightweight gold for rival promotion Bellator on three occasions to become one of their biggest stars before eventually departing to join the UFC in 2021.
Chandler’s debut came at UFC 257, where he blew away New Zealander Dan Hooker in half a round with a blistering display before making his mark with a spirited post-fight interview in the Octagon, where he announced himself as a new contender in the UFC’s 155-pound lightweight division.
That win catapulted Chandler into an immediate title shot against Oliveira as the pair battled for the vacant title at UFC 262. Chandler started the bout superbly and had Oliveira in big trouble as the opening round came to a close. But, despite coming close to finishing the Brazilian with strikes in the final seconds of the round, Chandler was unable to beat the clock, and Oliveira survived the round.
The Brazilian then turned the tables on Chandler in the opening seconds of Round 2 and dramatically stopped Chandler just 19 seconds after the restart for a stunning come-from-behind win.
Chandler has rued that loss ever since and has vowed to get back into championship contention and make his second shot count. He went toe to toe with fellow lightweight crowd-pleaser Justin Gaethje at UFC 268 in 2021’s Fight of the Year but lost out on the scorecards after three thrilling rounds.
He bounced back with a stunning front-kick knockout of Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 to get his form back on track. But Chandler then fell to another defeat as he was submitted in the third round by former interim champion Dustin Poirier at UFC 281.
After that loss, Chandler was coached opposite former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor on the 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter, with the pair set to meet inside the Octagon shortly after. But, after a planned bout at UFC 303 in June was scrapped due to a toe injury sustained by McGregor, Chandler eventually ran out of patience in September, with UFC boss Dana White revealing the American told him he was “done waiting” for the Irishman to return.
After his career had sat in limbo for an extended period, despite being healthy, Chandler has now turned his attention to a rematch with his old nemesis Oliveira.
Who will prevail as Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler face off again?
Both fighters are looking for redemption as they prepare to face off at UFC 309. For Oliveira, it’s a chance to cement his status as a championship contender again and book a rematch against the man who prevented him from recapturing the title he never lost inside the Octagon. For Chandler, meanwhile, it’s an opportunity to exorcise the demons of his first UFC loss and put himself right back into the lightweight title picture.
The oddsmakers have Oliveira as a sizeable favorite heading into the matchup. The Brazilian is listed as big as a -265 favorite with some bookies, while Chandler is listed as a +210 underdog.
That suggests the sportsbooks are expecting the rematch to go the same way as the first bout. That would suit Oliveira just fine, but after enduring a frustrating time on the sidelines, Chandler is ready to explode back into the mix at 155 pounds. However it pans out on fight night, it should deliver a spectacular matchup once again.
UFC 309: Full fight card
Main card
- Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic – for undisputed heavyweight title
- Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler – lightweight
- Viviane Araujo vs. Karine Silva – women’s flyweight
- Bo Nickal vs. Paul Craig – middleweight
- Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders – middleweight
Preliminary card
- Mauricio Ruffy vs. James Llontop – lightweight
- Marcin Tybura vs. Jhonata Diniz – heavyweight
- Nikita Krylov vs. Azamat Murzakanov – light heavyweight
- Jonathan Martinez vs. Marcus McGhee – bantamweight
Early prelims
- Jim Miller vs. Damon Jackson – lightweight
- David Onama vs. Lucas Almeida – featherweight
- Mickey Gall vs. Ramiz Brahimaj – welterweight
- Bassil Hafez vs. Oban Elliott – welterweight
- Veronica Hardy vs. Eduarda Moura – women’s flyweight
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