Michael Chandler has set some lofty goals for the near future.
Chandler will return after a nearly two-year hiatus when he takes on Charles Oliveira in a five-round co-headliner rematch at UFC 309 on November 16th at Madison Square Garden in New York. Despite going 2-3 in his UFC career, “Iron” still hasn’t lost his championship ambitions.
Chandler believes he will be in title talks with an eye toward a potential victory over former lightweight champion Oliveira. Meanwhile, number one contender Arman Tsarukyan is expected to challenge Islam Makhachev for the title next year at UFC 311 in January. Chandler imagines that if he can get past “De Bronx,” he could face the winner of that match. The 38-year-old veteran believes he can become the oldest lightweight champion in UFC history by next year.
“I’d like to say Chandler 1.0 was in it for bloodshed, Chandler 2.0 was in it to win the title,” he recently told Shaquiel Majri. “I have made a lot of changes, so I believe I can be champion in 2025. This will be a No. 1 contender fight.・The highest ranking person not named Tsarukyan or Islam Makhachev. I’m going to be the guy. So I’m going to be cageside watching that fight. And someday in 2025, I’m going to be the oldest guy ever. I’m going to hold that belt over my head as lightweight champion.”
UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic. Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN+. Order now!
The oldest lightweight champion in UFC history was Sean Sherk, who was 33 years and 336 days old when he won the title at UFC 73 in 2007.
Chandler, on the other hand, has largely missed the past two years as he was mainly looking forward to a big payday matchup against Conor McGregor, who hasn’t fought since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Ta. McGregor appeared as Chandler’s rival coach on The Ultimate Fighter 31. ” last year, but his return to the Octagon was repeatedly delayed. The two were ultimately scheduled to meet at UFC 303 in June of this year, until “The Notorious” withdrew due to a toe injury.
Meanwhile, Chandler has lost three of his last four fights, including a technical knockout loss to Oliveira in May 2021. Chandler hasn’t completely given up on facing McGregor, but he seems more focused on the title right now.
