Charles Oliveira survives late scare to beat Michael Chandler at UFC 309

The Brazilian came into the clash disconnected the backmost of a agonising decision to Arman Tsarukyan, but faced a pugnacious trial connected his instrumentality against the erstwhile rubric challenger

Charles Oliveira enactment his sanction backmost successful contention for a changeable astatine the lightweight rubric aft defeating Michael Chandler for a 2nd clip astatine UFC 309.

The Brazilian was looking to get backmost to winning ways aft suffering a constrictive decision to Arman Tsarukyan - who is expected to look champion Islam Makhachev aboriginal adjacent twelvemonth - astatine UFC 300. 'Do Bronx' is anxious to regain the throne and the triumph implicit Chandler volition surely assistance his chances of competing for the 155lb strap erstwhile again.

The brace archetypal went toe-to-toe 3 years agone for the vacant lightweight title. In what was an epic back-and-forth dust-up, Chandler was the aggressor aboriginal doors and caused the Brazilian existent issues aboriginal and was adjacent to ending the contention wrong the opening 5 minutes. That said, 'Do Bronx' sensationally turned it astir successful the 2nd round, needing conscionable 19 seconds to sound his American rival out. This clip around, it was a small much aggravated and dramatic

Both men were respectful up of the clash, touching gloves earlier the mouthwatering contention got underway. Straight from the off, Chandler was anxious to dictate proceedings. Very briefly, Oliveira seemed to person occupation with his oculus aft a imaginable poke by Chandler. The American utilized his jab to effort and drawback the erstwhile champion disconnected guard. Eventually, Oliveira was capable to power the tempo, earlier landing a crisp changeable which past allowed the Brazilian to backmost Chandler against the cage and past instrumentality the 'Iron' down. While 'Do Bronx' offered thing connected top-position, helium dominated the round.

The 2nd circular saw Chandler breathing precise heavy and connected the backfoot. Oliveira was explosive from the 2nd bell, landing immoderate tidy shots, catching Chandler with a brutal near manus which caused him to stumble. The Brazilian landed different cracking close manus earlier taking the American to the ground. Unlike the archetypal round, Oliveira was capable to predominate connected apical and onshore immoderate nasty elbows, but was incapable to unafraid a submission.

Round three, akin to the second, saw Oliveira dictate the gait - mixing successful immoderate bully uppercuts and knees up top, catching his rival disconnected defender before, erstwhile again, taking Chandler's backmost and successfully getting the combat to the floor. Once again, the American did good disconnected his backmost and ne'er looked successful information of being stopped.

Into the title rounds, a gassed and bloodied Chandler, inactive successful the bout, was erstwhile again backpedalling and warring connected the backfoot. Oliveira was speedy to property guardant and pursuit the takedown. It was baffling to spot however Chandler stayed successful the combat successful the archetypal 20 minutes considering however overmuch harm helium was taking connected the canvas.

With 5 minutes to go, Chandler had to bare the state tank, and caught Oliveira, astir finishing the combat himself. The Brazilian looked connected the ropes, but considering however gassed retired Chandler was, helium couldn't get it done. Despite showing large heart, the American was yet taken down again, allowing 'Do Bronx' to power the remainder of the bout. The erstwhile lightweight champion got the motion connected the judges' scorecards (49-46,49-46,49-45).

It's wide that Oliveira is aft a ace astatine the rubric next. Speaking to Joe Rogan aft the contest, helium said: "This feline is 1 of the toughest guys I've ever fought, helium has each my respect. Hunter, Dana, whoever is adjacent successful line, I'll beryllium beforehand enactment adjacent twelvemonth and I'll beryllium next."

As for Chandler, adjacent successful defeat, he's inactive anxious for a large combat and has erstwhile again called for a combat with Conor McGregor. "I person a clump of callouts.... possibly Max Holloway for the BMF title.... oregon Conor McGregor, if you tin ever get your location successful order, travel backmost and bushed maine if you can." Both Chandler and McGregor were opposing coaches connected the UFC's world tv bid The Ultimate Fighter past twelvemonth - which yet led to the combat being booked earlier this year. The brace were owed to combat astatine UFC 303 backmost successful June, however, the Irishman pulled retired astatine less than 2 weeks' announcement aft breaking his toed successful training.

Elsewhere connected the card, Bo Nickal kept his undefeated grounds intact pursuing a large unanimous determination triumph implicit erstwhile light-heavyweight prima Paul Craig. Mauricio Ruffy continued his blistery streak wrong the cage with a determination triumph implicit James Llontop successful a catchweight bout.