Former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira believes Michael Chandler’s hopes of a bounce-back victory next month rely on finding a quick finish.
After a second defeat to Oliveira last November left him 2-4 in the UFC, Chandler’s first outing of 2025 will be a crucial one.
The former three-time Bellator champ is set to make the walk in the co-main event of UFC 314 in Miami on April 12, where the challenge of handing up-and-comer Paddy Pimblett his first loss in the Octagon will await.
During a recent interview with Oddspedia, Charles Oliveira gave his take on the bout, assessing his ex-opponent’s chances against the polarizing Liverpudlian.
“Michael Chandler is a very aggressive and explosive guy. I have nothing but respect for him, he has power in his hands,” Oliveira said. “On the other side, you have a younger guy that believes in himself, moves very well and has really good jiu-jitsu and also a good stand-up game. He moves well, but experience counts for a lot.
“In the first two rounds, Chandler has a chance to knock him out because of how explosive he is,” Oliveira continued. “But if the fight goes into the third round, I believe it’s going to be hard for Chandler because Paddy is younger and he’s very talented.”
Pimblett has gone to the scorecards twice in his UFC career thus far, securing a controversial decision over Jared Gordon and a more convincing one opposite Tony Ferguson.
“The Baddy” is coming off an emphatic performance last time out opposite King Green, whom he rendered unconscious by way of triangle choke in one round at UFC 304 last July.
