Michael Chandler failed to capture the UFC lightweight title this past Saturday night, but that doesn’t mean he’s done trying.
The former Bellator lightweight champion was stopped by Charles Oliveira in the second round of their main event clash at UFC 262 in Houston. It was Chandler’s (22-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) first UFC title shot after having joined the promotion in September – following at long tenure at Bellator where he competed for a decade.
The 35-year-old by no means feels he’s done as a title contender at 155 pounds. Having almost finished Oliveira in the first round, Chandler is confident this latest setback didn’t push him too far down the ladder.
“There’s a case to be out there, and I’ve seen a lot of people say maybe an immediate rematch,” Chandler told MMA Junkie Radio. “There’s a case to be made that I have one fight and beat any other guys in the top five, and I’m right there. I do believe I’m a big player at this point. I do believe I’m world-class. I do believe I’m just as good as any of these guys. I do believe that Charles Oliveira beats anybody else in the top five. You look him against (Dustin) Poirier, you look at him against Conor (McGregor), you look at him against (Justin) Gaethje. I mean that’s a tough test for anybody, so losing to Charles Oliveira doesn’t make a me a guy that shouldn’t be fighting for a world title anytime soon.
“At this point, I don’t put any limits on what could happen. Immediate rematch could be a possibility, who knows? One fight could be a possibility, and then I’m fighting for the world title again by first quarter of next year. I’m not putting limits on anything. Obviously I have a limited time period. I’m not going to be here for a ton longer, so I want to get that title shot again before the end of next year. Either way, I’m willing to cut my teeth. I’m willing to re-build.”
But it’s not just Chandler’s perception on his standing in the division. The Sanford MMA product said the UFC brass also confirmed his sentiment in a recent call.
“On Monday, I heard from the UFC,” Chandler said. “They called me and said, ‘Keep your head up. You’re right there in the mix. Phenomenal fight. You almost beat the eventual world champion. You’re right there in the mix, and we’re going to get you another top five guy.’
“I got a lot of fun fights ahead of me, but I want to take a little bit of time off. I’ve been doing nothing but working since September when I signed with the UFC, and I think a couple months (away) from MMA training will be good. I’m going to keep my cardio high, my strength and conditioning going and keep taking care of my body.”
To see the full interview with Chandler, check out the video below.
Michael Chandler doesn’t feel far off from another UFC title shot: ‘I’m right there’
