Charles Oliveira opens as big betting favorite to beat Michael Chandler in UFC 309 rematch

Set to welcome former-foe, Michael Chandler back from his lengthy hiatus at UFC 309, Charles Oliveira has opened as a quite significant betting favorite to beat the former for a second time – as the two prepare for a five round rematch at Madison Square Garden.

Oliveira, the current number two rated lightweight challenger, is slated to co-headline November’s annual return to New York in a high-stakes rematch with Chandler, rekindling their rivalry dating back to 2021.

And finishing the ex-Bellator MMA star on that occasion with a stunning rallying second round knockout, Charles Oliveira has opened as an impressive -245 betting favorite over Michael Chandler to win at UFC 309, with the underdog boasting +200 odds on a host of MMA betting sites at the time of publication. 

Headlining UFC 262 in Texas in a vacant lightweight title fight, Sao Paulo finishing ace, Oliveira managed to survive a first round knockdown against the Missouri veteran – finding a home for a blistering hook in the opening exchange of the second round, before forcing a finish and minting himself as the new lightweight champion.

And going on to retain the title in a submission win over Dustin Poirier, Brazilian fan-favorite, Oliveira would stop Justin Gaethje with a first round triangle choke, having been stripped of the crown after a controversial weight miscue. 

Last time out, Oliveira – the most prolific submission threat in the history of the Octagon, as well as the most prolific outright finisher in the promotion’s antiquity, forced a three round decision against Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300, dropping a controversial loss on the monumental card.

Chandler, the current number six-rated challenger, has been hedging his bets on a grudge fight with former two-division champion Conor McGregor for the last two years – ultimately to no avail.

Slated to headline UFC 303 back in June against the Dubliner, Chandler was pulled from the card entirely after the ex-two-weight champion fractured a toe on his left foot just weeks from the bout, withdrawing from the International Fight Week card.

And electing to snap his hiatus with a November fight against former champion, Oliveira, Chandler – who is still steadfast in his pursuit of a grudge battle with McGregor, claimed the 36-year-old is not off the hook just yet. 

I’m still going to be thinking about Conor McGregor,” Michael Chandler said during Noche UFC. “As I asserted at the very beginning, Conor McGregor’s still not off the hook.”

Conor McGregor’s road back to the UFC still goes through Nashville, Tennessee and Michael Chandler,” He continued. “We must finish TUF 31. It has to happen. We’re in the same weight class. It was too long of a build-up for it not to happen.”

Himself without a win since 2022, on that occasion, Chandler would spring a Knockout of the Year contender with a hellacious front kick knockout of former interim lightweight champion, Tony Ferguson.

Last time featuring in ‘The Garden’ in November of that year, Chandler would bring common-foe, Poirier to the third round in a drawn-out battle before succumbing to a rear-naked choke in the pair’s grudge match in New York.