Charles Oliveira was able to dominate Michael Chandler for much of their rematch tonight at UFC 309, though he did have to survive a scare in the final round after being hurt by some heavy strikes.
Round One:
Front kick to the chest from Oliveira. Olbique kick now. Body punch for Chandler. Short flurry of punches from Oliveira and then a low kick.
Punch off the guard from Chandler. Low kick for Oliveira. Chandler in and out with a punch. Oliveira with a fast entry into a takedown attempt. Takedown from Oliveira despite Chandler grabbing the cage.
Oliveira in a slightly awkward spot but has a potential leg lock ready to go as he sits on Chandler’s stomach. He’s staying patient though. Oliveira lets the leg go and slowly moves to settle on top in half-guard. Chandler doing a good job of locking him down though to stop the submission specialist from getting to work late in the round.
Round Two:
Leg kick for Oliveira. He lands another. Body punch for Chandler. Fast hands from Oliveira and Chandler slips to the canvas for a moment but gets right back up.
Thumping right hand for Oliveira and Chandler has to sprint away on the outside to get out of danger!
Right hand for Oliveira. Brief flurry from Chandler comes off the guard. Head kick from Oliveira almost got through.
Knee upstairs from Oliveira. Chandler with a wild punch that does land but was very risky. Oliveira in on a takedown and lands it well. Oliveira in full mount with plenty of time to work. He lands the occasional short elbow but mostly happy to control the position here.
Oliveira postures up now and drops down a few more substantial elbows, then back down again. Another elbow lands. A few punches from Chandler from his back. Oliveira postures up, thinks about a submission and then lands more good elbows.
More hard elbows connecting for Oliveira. Chandler trying to scramble, but nothing doing for now. Final 10 seconds of the round and Oliveira is happy to just stay on top after a good round for him.
Round Three
Jabs for Chandler. Leg kick for Oliveira on Chandler’s already reddened thigh. Jab for Oliveira. Now a front kick to the body for him. Grazing left hand from Chandler.
Oliveira shoots in but misse the takedown this time. Leg kick for Chandler. He lands another. Uppercut from Oliveira. Chandler swinging hard as Oliveira tries to close the distance.
Solid jab from Chandler as he moves away. Good uppercut from Oliveira lands. Now an elbow upstairs. Right hand for Chandler. Now a jab. Swing and a miss from Chandler.
Knee and elbow from Oliveira. Now he drives into a takedown against the cage. Chandler defending for now. Oliveira peels him off the cage and takes him down. Oliveira has his back and is already hunting for a potential rear-naked choke.
Chandler defends so Oliveira doesn’t commit to it for now, but has the body triangle in and still has over two minutes to work.
Elbow to the head from Oliveira. Now body punches. A few punches to the head. Now he tries to get the rear-naked choke in, but Chandler fights it off. Another convincing round in Oliveira’s favor.
Round Four:
Kick off the guard from Oliveira. He tries for a takedown without success. Punch lands for Chandler. Cuffing right hand from Oliveira.
Body punches from Chandler and then a left upstairs. Jumping knee to the head from Oliveira. Chandler fights back by swinging a few big punches.
Oliveira clinches and works to the back before pulling Chandler down. Chandler onto his knees and Oliveira is all over him trying to find an opportunity to sink in the choke.
Oliveira works to his back. Chandler scrambles and Oliveira retains control of his back. Chandler slowly trying to find a way to his feet, but then Oliveira sinks in the rear-naked choke again. It doesn’t look good for him, but Chandler digs deep and fends off the submission.
Oliveira on his back again staying clinched to Chandler’s back. He lands a couple of heels to the body from the position.
Round Five:
Chandler heads into the final round knowing without a doubt that he needs a finish in the next five minutes.
Oliveira threatens with a knee as Chandler comes forward. Strike from Oliveira seemed to trouble Chandler for a moment. Oliveira tries for a takedown but Chandler avoids it.
Right hand from Chandler lands. He lands again and Oliveira is reaching at his eye and seems hurt. Chandler swinging for a fences but misses big and that enables Oliveira to get in and work a takedown. Chandler ends up on top though and starts blasting away with hammerfists as Oliveira is on his knees.
More punches land but Oliveira is staying in there and moves to his back. Oliveira throws up a triangle choke attempt. Chandler postures up to stop him from locking it up. Oliveira is happy to just stay like this though and buy some time.
Chandler backs out and goes back to the feet. Chandler with a punch. Oliveira lands in return. Oliveira works to the back and takes Chandler down. Big moment for him.
Final minute of the fight and Oliveira tries to go for the rear-naked choke. He doesn’t have it though. Chandler starts working to his feet, but Oliveira remains latched to his back as he gets upright.
Chandler walks to the center of the Octagon with a grin and then slams down onto the canvas. Oliveira still on him though, so Chandler manages to work to his feet again and goes for one final slam, but Oliveira is fine. We’re headed to the scorecards.
Decision:
No doubt about the winner here then with Oliveira dominating the fight for the first four rounds and then surviving a late rally from Chandler to emerge with a unanimous decision victory (49-46 x2, 49-45).
