Former Bellator lightweight champion, Michael Chandler joined the UFC not so long ago. After a stunning debut at UFC 257 that saw him earn a first-round knockout finish against Dan Hooker, he fought for the UFC lightweight title at UFC 262 against Charles Olivera.

In a back-and-forth first round, Chandler managed to significantly hurt and drop ‘Do Bronx’. Many believed he was one or two shots away from becoming a UFC champion. But, Oliveira survived and finished ‘Iron’ in the second round to eventually become the UFC lightweight king. Recently, in a chat with Ariel Helwani at the MMA Hour show, Chandler looked back at the contest.

“I do the same exact thing. Anybody who’s trying to accomplish anything great has a tenancy to harp on the things they have done wrong. Harp on the failures they’ve had. Harp on the view, whether It is realistic or unrealistic of other people of them and our failures,” said Chandler on looking back at things he could have done differently.

Michael Chandler says he was very close to becoming the UFC lightweight champion

Chandler believes he could very well have been the champion. In fact, another referee could have even called a stop to the contest. “Maybe one of the greatest things about that fight on May 15 was, yeah, I was this close. That’s eyelash,” he said.

“Maybe one punch away, maybe it was a different referee, maybe that referee would have stepped in. I was so close to winning the UFC title. So, that’s one of the things that has solidified me as one of the top guys and earned my right in this UFC lightweight division. But yeah, the saddest thing is man I was that close,” Chandler added further.

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Nevertheless, Chandler is set to return to the Octagon at UFC 268 as he takes on Justin ‘The Highlight‘ Gaethje in a battle of top 5 contenders of the lightweight division. With a win over Gaethje, he can put himself in a prime spot for a title shot again. However, one can expect the fight to be a classic.

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