Michael Chandler doesn’t want to leave any stone unturned ahead of his return after nearly two years for his fourth overall appearance at Madison Square Garden, where he will square off against former champion Charles Oliveira. The Missouri native has vowed to “mind-blow” everyone and bring fireworks to the co-main event of UFC 309 in less than a week. Along with this, Chandler even promised the headliner, Jon Jones, that he would come to “steal the show.”

However, Charles Oliveira remains unfazed by Chandler’s warning. Recently, he responded to Chandler’s aspirations with the intention to ‘fight fire with fire’ in an interview with MMA Fighting’s Mike Heck. Heck brought ‘Do Bronxs’s’ attention to Chandler’s ambitious plans and asked, “What do you think he means by that? What do you think his game plan will be?”

The question prompted Charles Oliveira to share his approach to stealing the spotlight. In response, the Brazilian said, “I know he’s a tough guy, but I’m ready for him. I know he’s very motivated and a very tough opponent. But,” stressing his own determination, ‘Do Bronxs’ continued, “I’m also very ready and highly motivated. I’m ready to go.”

Charles Oliveira is regrouping after his loss to top-ranked contender

Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, where the Armenian earned a split-decision victory over the former champion after a three-round war. Meanwhile, Chandler’s last outing came against Dustin Poirier way back in 2022.

Since then, Michael Chandler has targeted a high-profile fight with UFC star Conor McGregor, but the matchup has been postponed multiple times over the 18 months, leaving its status uncertain. Now, in his fourth appearance at Madison Square Garden, Chandler is determined to overcome his unfortunate record at the venue, where his opponents defeated him in all three of his previous fights.

Michael Chandler aims to change his luck at MSG

This year has been a rollercoaster for former three-time Bellator champion Michael Chandler, whose long-awaited fight against Conor McGregor was finally scheduled for UFC 303 after months of anticipation and delays. However, McGregor’s pinky toe injury caused the fight to be postponed indefinitely. Despite this setback, Chandler has maintained a positive outlook.

However, how optimistic can one remain when the venue of their next outing has been an absolute nightmare for them? The same goes for Chandler. Now, with his fourth attempt, the Missouri native aims to change his fate when he steps into the octagon on November 16 at Madison Square Garden. Speaking to the NY Post, Chandler showcased his positive mindset ahead of the fight, stating, “It’s OK. You can say I’m 0-and-3 at Madison Square Garden. So, I’m deciding to change that this time. It’s a huge blessing to be considered for the Madison Square Garden card.”

Chandler’s misfortunes at Madison Square Garden began in 2017 when he lost his Bellator title to Brent Primus by a first-round knockout via doctor stoppage. Four years later, under the UFC banner, Justin Gaethje further compounded Chandler’s struggles at the iconic venue. However, the worst setback came two years ago when former interim champion Dustin Poirier submitted Chandler with a rear-naked choke.

Now, all eyes are on the upcoming UFC 309 co-main event, where Michael Chandler will look to avenge his loss to former champion Charles Oliveira. The rematch is set to be an intense showdown between the two lightweights, with Oliveira having knocked out Chandler in the first round during their initial meeting. Can Chandler turn the tables this time? Share your prediction below!