Moving to 2-0 over former title challenger, Michael Chandler, ex-champion, Charles Oliveira was forced to fight some late fifth round adversity to land his second career victory over the former, in a blood-and-guts performance in the co-main event of at Madison Square Garden.
Showing off his vast striking expertise in the opening exchanges with Chandler, Oliveira managed to take the former Bellator MMA lightweight kingpin’s down on cue throughout the first round and all the way through to the fifth frame.
And threatening choke after choke — similarly to his April title eliminator with Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira was forced to work for his win in the final round against Chandler, who unloaded what was left in a hugely-depleted gas tank.