Oliviera claims UFC lightweight belt after stopping Chandler in second round

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

Charles Oliviera put on a spectacular show and knocked out top contender Michael Chandler in the second round to clinch the vacant UFC lightweight title vacated by Khabib Nurmagomedov.

UFC 262’s main event featured one of the most insane style clashes to grace the octagon as Oliviera, the top submission specialist in the sport; and Chandler, one of the most precise UFC strikers, tangled early in the first round.

Chandler made his power felt in the first five minutes of the fight and hurt a slippery Oliviera after connecting on a quick 1-2 combination.

Oliviera tried to get back in the fight and tagged the shorter Chandler using his shifty lock but surprisingly, the American managed to break loose and slid under for an easy escape.

It looked like Chandler would finish Oliviera as the Brazilian tactician was forced to stay on the ground to defend himself while receiving heavy leg kicks and sneaky hammer fists.

In the second round, the momentum shifted quickly when Oliviera landed a vicious left hook counter that dropped Chandler.

Oliviera then raised his first UFC title after grounding and pounding Chandler for 10 grueling minutes that triggered the referee to stop the match.