Chandler sees UFC 309 as an opportunity to avenge a loss to Oliveira and take one step closer to his dream of becoming UFC champion.

Michael Chandler is coming into UFC 309 on November 16th prepared to fulfill his destiny and earn himself a lightweight title shot with a win over Charles Oliveira.

“Iron Mike” has been out of action for the last two years waiting for a match-up with Conor McGregor to materialize. It never did. Most fighters would say “It is what it is,” which is code for “Yeah, this sucks but what are you gonna do about it?” Not Chandler. He believes it is what it was meant to be.

“This fight against Charles Oliveira, this is the way it was supposed to be,” he told TNT Sports in a new interview. “This is how the story was supposed to be written. We didn’t know it was gonna be written this way. We had other plans, there were other things that were supposed to happen, could’ve happened, should’ve happened. But this is how it’s gonna happen.”

“The guy who shattered my dreams of becoming the number one lightweight in the world, Charles Oliveira — I get to right that wrong,” he continued. “All the pressure’s on him. There’s no pressure on me. I’m gonna go out there and get my hand raised … This is my greatest moment of opportunity. And on Saturday night, I stick my claim as the number one contender in the lightweight division.”

Chandler is still ranked at No. 7 while Oliveira is up at No. 2. Based on the questionable way rankings work, he could steal the two spot from “Do Bronx” with a win in Madison Square Garden and be in a good position to challenge for the lightweight title.

“Dana has already called it the number one contender fight, the title eliminator,” Chandler claimed before laying out how he sees 2025 going.

“I believe Islam beats Arman. I think Islam will be the champion after that fight whenever whenever it is. He’s already fought a couple of the guys in the division. He wants new blood. He wants a new challenge. I believe he would love the opportunity to compete against me. I would love the opportunity to compete against him. So there’s a clear path.”

As we learned from Dustin Poirier’s surprising UFC 302 title shot against Makhachev, sometimes you just gotta be the guy that’s ready on the date the UFC needs filling. Add in a win over Oliveira, and Chandler is definitely on the short list of people in consideration.

“I win on Saturday night, I become the highest ranked guy not named Arman or Islam,” Chandler said. “I become the No. 1 contender. I submit myself as the next in line for the title. I will leave the Octagon at MSG on Saturday night the next guy in line for the title. And there’s nothing that can stop that.”

“Who’s gonna complain? I’m gonna be dominant on Saturday night and finally it will come to fruition. I’m gonna win the win the UFC title. And it’s the way it was supposed to be.”

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