- Anthony Smith doubts Michael Chandler will fight smarter against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309
- “Lionheart” believes taking risks is the only way “Iron” knows how to fight
Anthony Smith is certain Michael Chandler will be making the same mistakes again when he faces Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.
Chandler just can’t help it
Speaking on Believe You Me podcast, “Lionheart” disagreed with Michael Bisping’s speculation that Chandler will fight smarter this time now that he’s already 38 years old. However, Smith believes that “Iron” wouldn’t be able to stop himself and take risk once again by going all out.
“Not a chance, not a chance… I think he’ll think he’s gonna do that [fight smarter]. But… when he fought Poirier, I was sitting there right behind Rogan, and I was like, ‘This is going to be an amazing fight, he’s going to fight smart.’ He tried. I was close enough that I could see him, hear his coaches, hear the corner work through the broadcast. You can hear the things with Dean, and you can see he was having this internal battle,” Smith said of Chandler.
“He knew that he had been really successful with the wrestling, but there was this devil on the other shoulder saying, ‘Just go for broke,’ and he couldn’t help it. He’s in this battle, trying to pull back, but then going for it again. I used to think he was trying to be exciting, and he’s not. It’s just who he is in here [in his hear]. He can’t help it. He tried. He would go and pull back, go and pull back, and you can tell he’s just saying was thinking, ‘I gotta go,’ but he cant’ help it. He can’t change it,” he added.
Chandler still eyes a showdown with Conor
It took Chandler two years to finally make his UFC return because of Conor McGregor. The former Bellator champion was ready to face “Notorious” but the fight has been delayed until it ultimately got scrapped.
Nevertheless, Chandler is still hoping he and McGregor will still meet each other inside the Octagon early next year but first, he has to deal with Oliveira in their rematch.
Chandler lost to “Do Bronx” in their first meeting via TKO at UFC 262. He will be looking to avenge that defeat and probably shift his focus back on McGregor.
Watch Smith and Bisping’s full podcast below:
