After an intense battle inside the octagon at UFC 309, Michael Chandler stood victorious, and the crowd at Madison Square Garden erupted with excitement. With the lights shining down on him and the energy of the arena still buzzing in the air, Chandler, as always, was ready to engage in the post-fight interview. Joe Rogan stepped into the octagon to speak with Chandler about his incredible performance.
“Mike, that was an unbelievable fight,” Joe said, addressing Chandler with genuine admiration. “You lost the first four rounds, but you came out in the fifth round, and you threw caution to the wind. That was one of the greatest rounds I’ve ever seen in my life. What was going through your head when you knew you needed a big round to finish the fight?”
Chandler, never short on words or confidence, smiled and responded with his signature charisma. “Joe, all I know how to do is throw American caution to the wind,” he said with a grin, before adding, “I came out here to entertain. Madison Square Garden, I gave you guys what you wanted tonight!”
As always, Chandler’s primary goal is to provide fans with the kind of fight they’ll never forget, and he delivered in spades. He went on to explain his mentality heading into the fight. “I had a bunch of callouts in mind, but my job tonight was to win this fight. Forget about calling out Islam, Charles Oliveira’s got that covered. I’m thinking bigger—maybe Max Holloway for the BMF belt, or even Conor McGregor, if he ever gets his house back in order.”
The mention of McGregor sparked a reaction from the crowd, but Chandler wasn’t backing down. “While real professionals like me have been keeping the octagon warm, where’s Conor been? Come back and try to beat me if you can,” Chandler said, his intensity matching the magnitude of the moment.
Joe Rogan, clearly impressed by Chandler’s determination, asked, “Mike, do you have anything else you’d like to say to the fans?” Chandler nodded confidently, ready to close out the interview. “Do you have any more questions, Joe?” he joked with a smile. With the crowd still roaring, Joe replied, “No, sir. That was an awesome fight, Mike.”
Chandler raised his hands in acknowledgment, basking in the praise and appreciation of the fans. He gave one final nod of thanks and said, “Thank you, Joe. Thank you to the fans. This is what we do. This is what I live for.”
With that, Michael Chandler left the octagon once again proving why he’s one of the most electrifying fighters in the UFC. His heart, tenacity, and will to entertain make him a fan favorite, and his performance at UFC 309 only solidified his place as one of the most exciting athletes in the sport.
The interview was short, but it was a perfect reflection of Chandler’s personality—confident, fearless, and always ready to take on the next challenge. We can’t wait to see what’s next for “Iron” Mike Chandler in the UFC.
