Michael Chandler had a troublesome time of it in opposition to 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 troublesome welcome again to the octagon as he advised Bussin’ With The Boys on Wednesday.
“My physique is jacked,” Chandler stated. “My coronary heart is full. Let’s begin with the center. My coronary heart is full. … I’m simply comfortable to be residence. It was good. I had an exceptional coaching camp, we went to struggle, we did our factor.
“My physique, essentially the most ache I’ve ever been in my complete life. Probably 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 check. … It had a light-weight 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 change within the first spherical and severely hampered his means all through.
“I believe one thing occurred to the knee in that first change 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 already know what it feels prefer to be on a strong basis, to stroll ahead, transfer ahead, assault, and I simply wasn’t.
“Transferring backwards was no downside, so my physique and my mind was telling me transferring backwards was cool however transferring ahead, planting and being in his face, strain — even in case you return and watch the fifth [round] … every time I used to be pursuing him, my leg was virtually flopping moderately than stalking and transferring ahead. …
“We’ll see what occurred, however basically for 23 minutes of that battle I don’t know if the leg was actually working that nicely.”
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 season at this level and every time he comes again, he hopes it’s to lastly settle his enterprise with Conor McGregor.
“Appears 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 highway comes straight by Nashville, Tennessee. His highway again to the UFC, we’ve to complete The Final Fighter, the UFC desires to complete The Final Fighter, Conor desires 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 develop into 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 desires to see by 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 mistaken issues. And if he does, there’s a man ready and I simply so occur to suppose I’m one of many prime attracts within the UFC. Folks can pay good cash to look at me battle, it doesn’t matter what.”
