Charles Oliveira is the new KING of the lightweight division. Although he stopped Michael Chandler within the opening of the second round, it was not an easy fight as he faced a lot of adversity in the first round.
Many thought that Oliveira’s biggest chance of winning was likely his submission game, and he would not want to choose and trade against a hard hitting fighter like Michael Chandler. In the first round, he did get clipped a few times and even went down, but he also had moments where he took the back of Chandler but failed to execute the rear naked choke.
In the final minutes of the first round, Chandler lands a few punches that got Oliveira hurt where he even got down. It looked like close to finishing the fight, but luckily he manages to recover.
Coming to the second round, it looked like Chandler had a great momentum but Oliveira seemed unfazed by Chandler’s pressure. Oliveira went to exchange with Chandler where he clipped him with a left hook that knocked down Chandler.
Although Chandler was able to get back up, Oliveira sensed the finish and chased him until he knocked him down again that forced the referee to stop the fight.
Khabib will certainly be missed, especially since he retired on his prime and undefeated but Charles Oliveira more than deserves to be called the UFC lightweight champion. Oliveira has improved a lot in his MMA game, showing technical striking and high level grappling. He is one of the most well rounded fighters in the division right now.
What is next for Oliveira? Who will be his first title defense. A lot of talented fighters in the UFC lightweight division right now. You got the winner of Poirier vs McGregor, Beneil Dariush who just dominated Ferguson, Justin Gaethje who was the last interim champion. There is no doubt that the lightweight division is the most stacked division in the UFC right now.
