Michael Chandler had a tricky time of it towards Charles Oliveira.
This previous Saturday, Chandler rematched Oliveira within the co-main occasion of UFC 309, shedding a choice in a five-round struggle. It was Chandler’s first battle in two years and the previous Bellator light-weight champion had a tough welcome again to the octagon as he informed Bussin’ With The Boys on Wednesday.
“My physique is jacked,” Chandler stated. “My coronary heart is full. Let’s begin with the guts. My coronary heart is full. … I’m simply blissful to be dwelling. It was good. I had an outstanding coaching camp, we went to struggle, we did our factor.
“My physique, essentially the most ache I’ve ever been in my whole life. Essentially the most accidents I’ve had in a battle, for certain. Peed blood, irritation throughout, my complete physique is swollen. … The primary [blood in my urine] was very gentle, which was in my drug take a look at. … It had a lightweight tint and the second was beet trying juice. It was darkish.”
On prime of all that, Chandler additionally revealed that he injured his knee early within the battle, saying that he believes it got here throughout an trade within the first spherical and severely hampered his potential all through.
“I believe one thing occurred to the knee in that first trade when he had the leg and I did that full 360, he did a kneebar factor, as a result of I walked again to the stool and I appeared down at my left leg and it was not working proper,” Chandler stated. “It wasn’t stepping, it wasn’t catching, it was unstable, it was bizarre. … You understand what it feels prefer to be on a strong basis, to stroll ahead, transfer ahead, assault, and I simply wasn’t.
“Shifting backwards was no drawback, so my physique and my mind was telling me transferring backwards was cool however transferring ahead, planting and being in his face, stress — even in case you return and watch the fifth [round] … every time I used to be pursuing him, my leg was virtually flopping reasonably than stalking and transferring ahead. …
“We’ll see what occurred, however primarily for 23 minutes of that battle I don’t know if the leg was actually working that properly.”
Chandler added that he’s but to have an MRI however says he’ll see to that within the coming days earlier than making his return plans. However for now he’s tentatively concentrating on a return subsequent summer time at this level and every time he comes again, he hopes it’s to lastly settle his enterprise with Conor McGregor.
“Seems to be prefer it’s going to be Conor subsequent,” Chandler stated. “I’m not saying it’s an actual actuality, however I’m saying if he does his street comes straight via Nashville, Tennessee. His street again to the UFC, now we have to complete The Final Fighter, the UFC needs to complete The Final Fighter, Conor needs to battle me. He can battle anyone, however he made a dedication. …
“He’s extra sentimental and romantic in regards to the sport than individuals give him credit score for as a result of he has turn out to be this large, notorious model. However he is aware of he’s nothing with out that UFC octagon, he is aware of he’s nothing with out the UFC. He was a plumber on welfare sleeping on a sofa and with out the UFC, he’s nothing.
“So I believe he needs to see via to his dedication. Fairly frankly, he wants to return again, he wants one thing to chase or else he’s going to maintain chasing the flawed issues. And if he does, there’s a man ready and I simply so occur to assume I’m one of many prime attracts within the UFC. Individuals pays good cash to observe me battle, it doesn’t matter what.”
