“The Lion is blurry”. That was one of the phrases that Charles do Bronx talked about most throughout his preparation for the fight against Michael Chandlerin the co-main event of UFC 309, no Madison Square Garden, em Nova York.
This Saturday (16), Charles proved what he said and beat the American for the second time, this time by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) – he had already knocked out Chandler to become lightweight champion at UFC 262, in 2021 – and once again dreamed of the category belt.
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Currently, the belt belongs to Islam Makhachev, who should face Arman Tsarukyan, who beat Charles at UFC 300, next year. After the fight, the winner will most likely put his belt to the test against the Brazilian, who will have a chance to fulfill his promise and become champion in honor of his son Dominic.
Right at the beginning of the fight, Charles complained about being poked in the eye by the American, but the referee ordered the fight to continue. After about two minutes, the Brazilian managed a takedown and spent three minutes controlling the American on the ground.
In the second round, Do Bronx was very aggressive and connected two beautiful blows to Chandler’s face, who literally had to run away to survive. With 2:30 left, Charles managed a great takedown and took the fight to the ground, managing to mount the American and punishing him with some elbows.
After maintaining his aggression in the third round, Charles landed a few more blows and took the fight to the ground again, getting Chandler’s back. The Brazilian punished the American with punches and elbows and narrowly missed out on a submission.
In the fourth round, Charles continued to control on his feet, landed the best blows and managed to take the fight to the ground again, taking Chandler’s back and getting very close to a submission, but the American escaped well again.
With victory practically in hand, Do Bronx had a huge scare in the last round. Chandler landed a nice blow on the Brazilian, who staggered and fell to the ground. The American threw a series of elbows at Charles’ head, who survived and the fight returned to standing.
Charles then managed a good takedown, his fifth of the night, his biggest mark, and secured the victory.
UFC 309 results:
Card Principal
Preliminary Card
The Lion is Blurry: Charles do Bronx Roars Again at UFC 309
Oh, what a night it was at Madison Square Garden, ladies and gentlemen! I mean, it’s tough not to be slightly charmed by a venue that’s hosted everything from the UFC to the New York Knicks, and now, apparently, a fight that involved an angry Brazilian and an American screaming “RUN!”
The Blurry Lion Speaks
“The Lion is blurry.” Now, I don’t know about you, but when I think of a lion, I don’t associate it with being blurry—more like ferocious and definitely not needing a pair of glasses from Specsavers! Yet, Charles do Bronx used this phrase like a true artist, painting a picture of an impending showdown with Michael Chandler. And my word, did he deliver!
A Rematch to Remember
Fast forward to the co-main event of UFC 309 this Saturday (16), and Charles showed us just how sharp his vision was. With a unanimous decision victory (49-46, 49-46, 49-45), he proved that when it comes to lightweights, it’s less about the lion being blurry and more about dodging punches like they’re a bad Tinder date. This was no stroll in Central Park; this was a full-on thrive in the jungle!
Returning to Glory
Let’s not forget: this was a rematch. Do Bronx had already taken Chandler down a peg in UFC 262, where he knocked him out to snatch that glorious lightweight title. Isn’t that sweet? A little earlier wedding to the belt, if you will! Now, he’s back on the prowl, wanting another chance to wear that shiny gold around his waist.
Main Event Highlights
Round one kicked off, and what does Charles do? He complains about being poked in the eye. One can’t help but wonder if Chandler was just applying the “accidentally-on-purpose” technique! But once the dust settled and he got over the whole “blind man in the ring” thing, he took it to the ground. Yes, down to the mat, where things got less blurry and more…”I think I see a submission!”
Round Two Shenanigans
Now, in the second round, oh boy, did Do Bronx unleash a flurry of punches that could only make you question if he was roasting marshmallows or serving up Chandler’s face for dinner. Chandler? Well, he was playing the part of the reluctant piñata. Charles managed to control the fight on the ground, showing us that if you’re going to dominate, you might as well look good doing it!
Riding the Wave of Aggression
Into rounds three and four, Charles was as dominant as a cat in a room full of laser pointers, landing precise strikes and controlling the ground game like he was rearranging his IKEA furniture. A couple of times, it looked like Chandler might just escape the lion’s grip, but Charles wasn’t having any of that nonsense!
The Final Round Fracas
But wait, there’s more! Entering the final round, just when you thought Charles had it in the bag, Chandler threw a stunning blow—one that made Do Bronx look like he might just need a minute to adjust his blurry vision. Wouldn’t that have been an anticlimactic ending? Luckily, our Brazilian friend held on tougher than a kid refusing to leave the candy store!
Yet, the fight went on, with Charles landing his fifth glorious takedown of the night, securing that victory. I tell you, folks, it seems the only blurry thing in that ring was Michael Chandler’s chance of winning!
What Comes Next?
Looking to the future, the title currently belongs to Islam Makhachev, who’s got a date set with Arman Tsarukyan next year. And guess who’s waiting eagerly in the wings? Yep, Charles, ready to fulfill his promise of becoming a champion for his son, Dominic. If that’s not heartwarming enough to make you grab a box of tissues, I don’t know what is!
UFC 309 Results
Main Card
— Charles do Bronx defeated Michael Chandler by unanimous decision.
Preliminary Card
So, as we say in the world of fighting: Onwards and upwards, or in Charles’ case, it looks like it’s time to sharpen that vision. Stay tuned, because this blur is about to get crystal clear!
“The Lion is blurry”. That was among the key phrases that Charles do Bronx frequently emphasized during his intensive training leading up to the highly anticipated fight against Michael Chandler in the co-main event of UFC 309, held at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City.
This Saturday (16), Charles reinforced his earlier assertions by achieving a decisive victory over the American fighter, claiming a unanimous decision with scorecards reading 49-46, 49-46, and 49-45. This win marked his second triumph over Chandler, having previously knocked him out to capture the lightweight championship at UFC 262 back in 2021, reigniting his aspirations for the title.
Currently, the lightweight championship is held by Islam Makhachev, who is set to face Arman Tsarukyan, the fighter who recently bested Charles at UFC 300, in an upcoming match next year. The winner of that bout is highly likely to defend the title against the Brazilian, giving Charles the golden opportunity to fulfill his dream of becoming champion in honor of his son, Dominic.
Right at the beginning of the fight, Charles voiced his frustration over what he claimed was an eye poke from Chandler. However, the referee instructed the fighters to continue, and shortly after, Charles executed a brilliant takedown, successfully controlling Chandler on the ground for a significant three-minute span.
In the second round, Do Bronx adopted an aggressive strategy, landing two stunning strikes to Chandler’s face. The force of the blows was such that Chandler found himself retreating to avoid further damage. With 2:30 remaining in the round, Charles achieved another impressive takedown, this time mounting Chandler and delivering punishing elbows that showcased his dominance.
Maintaining his relentless pace into the third round, Charles continued his offensive onslaught with several more powerful strikes before once again taking the fight to the ground. He managed to secure Chandler’s back, unleashing a flurry of punches and elbows, coming tantalizingly close to locking in a submission hold.
In the fourth round, Charles sustained his impressive control, delivering some of the best strikes of the match while expertly bringing the fight back to the mat. He once again took Chandler’s back and edged closer to a potential submission, though the American demonstrated resilience and escaped once more.
As victory appeared to be within his grasp, Do Bronx faced a moment of peril in the final round. Chandler landed a clean shot that caused Charles to stagger, sending him crashing to the canvas. In a frantic sequence, the American unleashed a volley of elbows aimed at Charles’ head. Fortunately, he managed to endure the onslaught and swiftly returned to his feet.
Seizing the moment, Charles executed an outstanding takedown, marking his fifth successful attempt of the night—a personal best—and ultimately securing his hard-fought victory.
UFC 309 results:
Card Principal
Preliminary Card
What grappling techniques did Charles use to gain control over Chandler during the fight?
Down, gaining control on the ground for the next three minutes, showcasing his grappling skills.
In the second round, Charles was relentless, landing significant strikes that had Chandler retreating, clearly on the defensive. With about two and a half minutes remaining, Charles again took Chandler down, establishing mount position and raining down elbows, demonstrating that he wasn’t just looking to win but to dominate.
As the third round commenced, Charles continued his aggressive approach, landing powerful shots and transitioning to the ground once more. He managed to secure Chandler’s back, delivering punishing blows while searching for a potential submission, but Chandler skillfully escaped.
Round four saw Charles maintaining control. He continued to land the more effective strikes and managed yet another takedown, getting close to a submission again, only for Chandler to evade it at the last minute.
In a surprising twist, the last round nearly took a turn for the worse for Charles. A well-timed strike from Chandler stumbled him, prompting an onslaught of elbows until Charles, showcasing his toughness, managed to survive and reset the fight back to a standing position.
Charles executed his fifth takedown, cementing his victory and demonstrating his resilience throughout the fight. The referee’s final decision echoed in the arena – a unanimous victory for Charles do Bronx, who proved once again why he remains a formidable force in the lightweight division.
With this win, the next chapter of Charles’ journey unfolds. Eyes are now on Islam Makhachev, who will soon defend his title against Arman Tsarukyan. For Charles, the real fight may lie ahead as he seeks redemption and a chance to reclaim the title in honor of his son, Dominic, showcasing not just his skill but a heartfelt reason for his quest for glory.
The electrifying atmosphere of Madison Square Garden felt the echoes of victory, proving once again that in the world of UFC, the lion roars loudest when he’s had his share of struggle and triumph. The horizon is bright for Charles do Bronx, and fight fans eagerly await his next move!