Charles Oliveira blasts referee for not being ‘severe’ enough against Michael Chandler’s illegal strikes at UFC 309

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Charles Oliveira blasts referee for not being severe enough against Michael Chandlers illegal strikes at UFC 309

Last Saturday, he lasted five rounds to defeat for the first time in his 46-fight MMA career in the co-main event of in New York, and he had to overcome difficult final minutes and several illegal punches to emerge victorious by decision.

The former UFC lightweight champion said at the UFC 309 post-fight press conference that he was in no mood to criticize Chandler, who he has now beaten twice in the octagon, but did not agree with his fouls during the match or with them by Keith Peterson working happily as a referee.

“I don't like to criticize, I don't like to say anything, but once you've seen it, what else can I say?” Oliveira said. “I don't want to criticize anyone, but I've been hit in the back of the head too many times. He grabbed the cage a lot, I got poked in the eye too many times. We are becoming more and more professional and we don't need that. I think the referee could have been stricter. I told him many times what was going on and he stood there looking like nothing had happened.”

Oliveira still won, bouncing back from a close decision loss Earlier this week and once again placed himself as the number 1 contender against the winner of against Zarukyan. The title fight is expected in early 2025 and “do Bronx” wants a front row seat.

The Brazilian confirmed that he suffered a knee injury in camp which forced him out of training for a while, but his team did a great job helping him get through difficult times and stay in the fight. The UFC 309 victory was just Oliveira's fifth UFC decision in 34 Octagon appearances and gave him a record-tying 20th post-fight bonus, but he was hoping for a definitive stoppage like he did in his first clash with Chandler in 2021.

“I don't want to go to the end, I come here looking for it [the finish] and come hunt anytime,” Oliveira said. “But when we talk about two tough guys, him and me, it happens. We talk about MMA and that shows how much I have developed in MMA. Before I would have jumped on the submission or exploded to get a better position, but now I just wanted to win.”

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