Michael Chandler has changed his tune when it comes to UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira. In an appearance on The Fighter vs The Writer, Chandler explains that Oliveira’s seven consecutive finishes and title-winning performances make him the fighter of the year.
“You can’t get in a championship fight, almost get knocked out and lose a 10-8 round to me and come back and meet me in the center of the octagon like he did and win the fight or have somewhat of a lopsided win against Dustin Poirier, a finish but dominant two rounds and not have the opinion of yourself being a champion or being of championship caliber.
Michael Chandler: Oliveira is 2021 Fighter of the Year
We were wrong about Charles Oliveira. I’ll be the first to admit it as well. When I was talking about the top lightweights a year ago, when I was coming into the UFC, I never would have thought that I would be challenging Charles Oliveira for the title or wanting to be chasing the gold and have it be around Charles Oliveira’s waist.”
Chandler’s praise for Oliveira is firmly rooted in the caliber of Oliveira’s opponents. In Dustin Poirier, “Do Bronx” made his first title defense against one of the greatest lightweights of our time.
“What Charles Oliveira has been able to do, and he’s been in the UFC for so long, and now to finally capture gold and then defend his gold against the guy everyone knew was the No. 1 contender in the world, if not the best lightweight in the world in Dustin Poirier.
It’s been a great year for him. I think that would probably be my pick for Fighter of the Year. Watching what Charles Oliveira has done this year.
Claiming gold and then defending it against one of the best to ever do it at lightweight, one of the greatest lightweights of all time, will inevitably be a UFC Hall of Famer, Dustin Poirier. Hats off to him. I think he would be my pick for Fighter of the Year.”
Charles Oliveira won the title early this year, defeating Michael Chandler via second-round knockout. His first defense came against Dustin Poirier, who he dispatched with a third-round rear naked choke. Whether Oliveira can hold on to the belt in a division overflowing with talent is another story.
In addition to Poirier and Chandler, the likes of Justin Gaethje, Islam Makhachev, and Conor McGregor are jostling for a chance at Oliveira’s belt.
If he doesn’t lock it down this year, should Oliveira still be wearing that belt at the end of 2022, he will surely be 2022’s fighter of the year.
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