Oliveira vs Chandler Prediction & Picks - UFC #309

Prediction published on 11/15/24, 3:34 AM  by Stephen Abiola | Modified on 11/15/24 at 6:42 AM in UFC Picks

Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler will face off on Sunday in a highly anticipated Co-Main Event for the Lightweight division. Both fighters are UFC veterans ranked in the top 10 of the division. This fight is a rematch of the May 2021 battle, where Oliveira won by KO/TKO to lift the Lightweight title. Oliveira, who is an excellent striker, enters this fight with a 34-10 MMA record, and his grappling ability is also top-notch. However, the 38-year-old Chandler will have a point to prove here. He comes fully equipped with explosive power and a never-say-die attitude that could give Oliveira problems inside the Octagon. The 'Iron' can bag an upset victory, although Oliveira is the bookmaker's favorite. 

Charles Oliveira came up short in his No. 1 contender battle against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300. This handed him a rematch this weekend against Chandler as he looks to return to winning ways. A win here could boost his chances of taking a title shot against the winner between Arman Tsarukyan and Islam Makhachev. In his last meeting with Chandler, he demonstrated excellent endurance after recovering from early attacks to win Round 2 by KO. His resilience and striking accuracy of 53% present him as a constant threat throughout the fight. Also, his recent experience against Tsarukyan and Makhachev can only make him sharper and more intelligent.

Chandler, on the other hand, is back to UFC action after his fight against Connor McGregor didn't materialize this year. He has been out for almost two years without a competitive fight, which puts him at a disadvantage in this battle. The 38-year-old has had 23 wins and 38 losses in his professional MMA career. His most recent fight was against Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, where he lost via submission. Despite losing, his opponent accused him of being a "dirty competitor." Before that, Chandler lost to Justin Goethke at UFC 268 via unanimous decision after a three-round thriller. In short, he hasn't won any of his last five fights.