Michael Chandler on Highlight-Reel KO of Tony Ferguson: It’s Not Something We Train

Following a spectacular front kick finish of Tony Ferguson that UFC president Dana White later called “the most vicious knockout I’ve ever seen,” Michael Chandler admitted that the maneuver is little more than an afterthought in his offensive repertoire.

“I don’t even know if I saw it in the moment,” Chandler said at the UFC 274 post-fight press conference. “I think my body just moved and foot [landed] to face and a couple back flips [after]…Sometimes I think the fights materialize exactly how you want them to. Sometimes you stay within your normal box of what you always use and it works, sometimes it doesn’t work. And sometimes you throw something that you never, ever thought you would ever land, let alone knock someone out with.”

Chandler is well-known for knockout power in his hands, but there’s a decent chance his front kick KO — one of nine such finishes in promotion history — will end up on more than a few year-end award lists.

“It’s not something that we trained. I think I have the best kickboxing coach on the planet, Henri Hooft. But we don’t train a lot of front kicks, I will tell you that,” he said. “And mainly the reason is because I told Henri that it hurts my toes. My right foot is a little bit sore and I’m a big baby when it comes to my feet getting hit. So, I didn’t train it but it landed tonight.”

Chandler made the most of his post-fight microphone time in the aftermath of the knockout, calling out the Charles Oliveira-Justin Gaethje winner and Conor McGregor. After witnessing Oliveira prevail against Gaethje, Chandler had nothing but praise for his former opponent. Oliveira defeated Chandler at UFC 262 to claim the vacant lightweight belt last year.

“Shame on all of us for ever, ever doubting Charles Oliveira,” Chandler said. “Gaethje had him hurt, Oliveira had Gaethje hurt, and when you get on the ground with Charles Oliveira, he’s going to submit you – except for me, I was able to get out of it. But I think, isn’t there something satisfying about watching Charles Oliveira blossom into who he is? …

“I lost to him, but I think we have unfinished business. I got into this sport to become a champion. I got into this sport to wear 12 pounds of leather and gold around my waist, and I would love for it to say UFC on it.”

It’s unlikely that Chandler, who is 2-2 in the UFC, would get another title shot so soon. But after a knockout that’s sure to be replayed for months to come, Chandler might have enough sway to reel in a lucrative matchup with McGregor.

“That fight with Conor, I’m serious about it,” Chandler said. “You’re going to be hard pressed to find somebody who doesn’t think I’m one of the most exciting guys on the planet now. I think I’ve proven that numerous times now. Conor needs a big fight to put butts in seats, to sell pay-per-views, and a fight at 170 would be a lot better than 155.”