On Saturday, former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira faces Michael Chandler in a rematch of their May 2021 scrap for the vacant UFC 155-pound title. The fight serves as the co-main event of the UFC 309 fight card. In the main event, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones puts his title on the line against two-time UFC heavyweight kingpin Stipe Miocic.

The UFC 309 PPV fight card takes place on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The PPV card will stream on ESPN+ after the prelims on ESPNews and the early prelims on ESPN+

UFC 309 Co-Main Event Preview: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler 2

Charles Oliveira (34-10-0-1) has been fighting in the UFC since 2010. He won the vacant lightweight title with his victory over Chandler and defended the title once, defeating Dustin Poirier. He was booked for Justin Gaethje in his second title defense, but Oliveira missed weight for that fight, which he won by submission, losing the title on the scale.

Oliveira was given the opportunity to regain the belt in October 2022, but Islam Makhachev submitted him and claimed the vacant belt. Since that loss, Oliveira is 1-1, beating Beneil Dariush by technical knockout in June 2023 and losing via split decision to Arman Tsarukyan in April of this year.

Oliveira is the No. 2 fighter in the official UFC lightweight rankings.

Michael Chandler (23-8) had been waiting for a duel with Conor McGregor. After a long postponement, that fight was booked for UFC 303 in June. However, a broken toe during training camp prevented McGregor from participating.

Chandler last fought in November 2022 when he lost to former interim UFC lightweight champion Dustin Poirier. Chandler signed with the UFC as a free agent in 2020. He made his UC debut in January 2021 with a knockout win over Dan Hooker.

Oliveira and Chandler met in the main event of UFC 262 in May 2021. Oliveira won that bout via second-round TKO to claim the vacant UFC 155-pound title.

Chandler enters Saturday’s UFC 309 fight card as the No. 7 fighter in the UFC’s 155-pound weight division rankings.

UFC 309: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler

“It’s over. We are focusing on this now,” Oliveira said through an interpreter. “That was experience. He’s trying to prove he can beat me. I’m trying to prove that I can beat him again. Let’s put that in the past and focus on this.

“The plan is always to get better. That’s why we go back to the gym – to improve. You work on the things that are necessary. I lost to Jim Miller, I came back, then went out and beat him. Michael Chandler, I know I beat him. But I always get better.”

“He wants to become champion for the first time. I want to be champion again,” Oliveira added. “The champion of the lightweight division has a name – we know that. I beat Michael Chandler once. I’m going to beat Michael Chandler again.

“I think a lot of people will come and talk. Everyone comes here and says the same things. They talk the talk. They say they have plans, or that they are going to do something. But you have to come here and do things. This is a magical stage – a great place to be with the energy of the audience. I will move forward in this fight, charge forward.”

UFC 309: Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira

“That was probably the most painful point in my career after a loss,” Chandler said of his loss to Oliveira. ‘Because this was my only chance, I thought.

“You never know in this sport, man. It’s what you’ve done for me lately. You lose and suddenly I’m the flavor of the week this week. People are excited to see me fight. You lose, what happens next? Can you build yourself back up? God forbid there are any injuries or you fall off the wagon.

“That was my one chance, I thought, to finally become this dream that I’ve had since I was 22 when I got into the sport, followed Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley and said, ‘Hey, one day I want to be ‘.” the number 1 man in the world.’ And Charles Oliveira shattered that dream, and now it’s just so coincidental that I now get another opportunity against him to right that wrong and get back in the win column to become the No. 1 contender, and then fight against an all-around esteemed – one of the greatest lightweights of all time, who I think will be Islam (Makhachev). I think he will beat Arman (Tsarukyan) when they fight in January or whenever that is. So it’s going to be interesting.”

UFC 309 betting odds: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler 2

Oliveira opened as the -198 betting favorite over Chandler, who was +164 when this fight was announced. Today, the former UFC champion is listed at -280 on the betting line, while Chandler is the +200 betting underdog.

According to the closing odds for the UFC 262 fight between Oliveira and Chandler, the Brazilian fighter came in as a -135 favorite, while the American was a +110 underdog.

UFC 309 predictions and picks: Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler 2

Chandler has the power to stop this fight with his striking, but Oliveira has the advantage in technical skills and fight IQ. Look for Oliveira to throw a lot of leg kicks early to stop his opponent’s forward momentum. Once Oliveira has mastered his kicking game, look for the fight to go to the mat where Oliveira will earn a submission victory.

For those leaning towards Chandler, if he wins, it will likely be via knockout.

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