Michael Chandler lost to Charles Oliveira in a rematch at UFC 309, suffering significant leg swelling but no major injuries, and remains optimistic about his recovery and future fights.
Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira have faced off twice in the octagon. And oh boy, has it been a rollercoaster.
In their latest clash at UFC 309, Oliveira clinched a unanimous decision victory. This win put him up 2-0 against Chandler. For most of the fight, Oliveira dominated, but Chandler turned up the heat in the fifth round, pulling out all the stops—and some eyebrow-raising tactics—to nearly snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Despite Oliveira’s relentless onslaught, he managed to secure the win by points. Chandler took quite the beating, both standing and on the ground. On Tuesday, he posted a video online showing his right leg with some truly shocking swelling.
Check out the clip below!
In the video, Chandler highlights the swelling by pressing two fingers into his leg. The indents linger longer than you’d expect. “Look at this knee,” he remarked. “The swelling goes all the way down.”
Remarkably, despite this intense battle, Chandler emerged from UFC 309 without any significant injuries according to official post-fight medical reports. He received a 30-day suspension but will need clearance from his primary care physician before returning.
Chandler also shared another update on Tuesday about his health and what’s next for him. “We’re hitting the red light bed, HyperMax, cold plunge… you name it,” he said. “The road to recovery started on Monday.”
He added that MRIs were lined up to assess any damage. But regardless of results? “We do not slow down,” Chandler declared. “We continue to move forward.”
Looking ahead, Chandler seems optimistic. “2025 is going to be big,” he predicted. There’s unfinished business from The Ultimate Fighter 31 and plenty of fighters calling him out. Fans are eager because no one else brings such passion and drama to the cage.
In his words: “There’s only one man that can do that.”