Max Griffin plans on busting up TUF alumnus Michael Chiesa when the two step inside the Octagon at UFC 310
As ‘Pain’ closes in on his ninth year with the UFC, he’ll look to land his ninth career win inside the Octagon when he meets Chiesa to help close out the promotion’s pay-per-view calendar on December 7. After seeing his three-fight win streak snapped at the hands of Neil Magny in 2022, Griffin has alternated wins and losses, besting Tim Mean and Jeremiah Wells with a loss against Michael Morales in between.
Speaking with James Lynch in a MiddleEasy exclusive interview, Griffin offered his prediction for their welterweight clash and made it clear that he’s coming to finish Chiesa, whether it be on his feet or the mat.
“Obviously, I’m gonna defend the takedown, but I’m gonna bust him up and make him not want to be in there,” Griffin said. “I’m gonna get the job done. I might get taken down, but I’m gonna get up and I’m gonna beat him up. If I get taken down again, I’ll get up and beat him up again. I’m looking for a finish whether it’s knockout or submission. I could see both. I could see me knocking him out standing or I could see him trying to shoot, getting stuff, and choked. I could see him on the ground getting ground and pounded.
“This is gonna be my best performance to date on the biggest stage.”
Max Griffin Slams Michael Chandler For Cheating Against Charles Oliveira
Throughout their conversation, Griffin offered his take on some of the UFC’s upcoming bouts, including the high-stakes co-main event between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Gary. However, hearing Michael Chandler’s name got Griffin really fired up.
Griffin — like many — called out Chandler for some shady tactics during his scrap with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309. Though the two delivered another entertaining five-round affair, Chandler received backlash after blatantly grabbing the fence during the contest and landing a slew of strikes on the back of Oliveira’s head.
Punch>Frame-eyepoke>Back of the head ground and pound
Insane combo from Michael Chandler. Very creative cheating👍 pic.twitter.com/8xSIQhmXP3
— TS (Reborn) (@ItSeemsIAmFree) November 17, 2024
“Straight up cheating. I saw the fifth round of the fight on my phone and then I watched a video yesterday on Twitter and it showed every hit where Chandler cheated in that fight. All the grabs and all that stuff, like my god. What a freaking cheater. I fought this Russian guy who cheated a lot. Holding the cage. Double underhook on the cage. But for Chandler, c’mon. So many (strikes) to the back of the head.
“Then he’s getting all pissed about it. Like, watch the video! ‘Those were on the ear,’ but your whole forearm is just blasting the back of his head. The fence grabs — holding the top (of the fence).”
It’s certainly not the first time Chandler has been accused of cheating. Following their fight at UFC 281, Dustin Poirier accused ‘Iron’ of grabbing the inside of his mouth and pulling upward to try and cinch in a choke. An instant replay appeared to catch Chandler doing exactly that during one of the exchanges.
Watch the full exclusive interview below:
