UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler took place and featured a series of exciting matchups and unexpected turns. This event was particularly notable for the Lightweight Championship bout between Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira, where the vacant title was up for grabs.
Main Event: Oliveira vs. Chandler for the Vacant Lightweight Title
A UFC Lightweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira headlined the event.
Former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement immediately after defending his title at UFC 254 last October, citing his father's death from complications related to COVID-19 in July as the main reason behind it. Despite his announcement, the title was never officially vacated as UFC President Dana White said several times that he believed Nurmagomedov would still fight again.
Ultimately, Oliveira emerged victorious, claiming the title in a thrilling contest that showcased both fighters' skills and determination.
#UFC289 Pelea Gratis: Oliveira vs Chandler
Other Notable Fights and Events
Several other bouts contributed to the excitement of UFC 262. Here are some highlights:
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- Edwards vs. Diaz: A welterweight bout between Leon Edwards and former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Nate Diaz was expected to take place at this event. However it was rescheduled.
- Perez vs. Schnell: A flyweight bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Alex Perez and Matt Schnell was scheduled for the event, but Perez was forced to pull out due to undisclosed reasons. He was replaced by Rogério Bontorin, and the bout took place at bantamweight.
- Álvarez vs. Giagos: Joel Álvarez was scheduled to face Christos Giagos in a lightweight bout, but Álvarez was removed from the bout in early May due to alleged visa issues that restricted his travel.
- Hermansson vs. Shahbazyan: A middleweight bout between Jack Hermansson and Edmen Shahbazyan was expected to take place at this event. However, the bout was postponed to take place one week later at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt.
Controversies and Changes
The event was not without its share of controversies and last-minute changes:
- Bontorin's Weight Issue: At the weigh-ins, Bontorin weighed in at 137 pounds, one pound over the division's non-title fight limit.
- Doping Violation: In June 2021, Bontorin was notified by USADA due to a potential doping violation. He tested positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a banned diuretic, in an out-of-competition urine sample in May 2021.
Following notification of his positive test, Bontorin provided open containers of two dietary supplements he obtained from a Brazilian compounding pharmacy that he was using prior to his positive test for analysis by a WADA-accredited laboratory. Although no prohibited substances were listed on the supplement product labels, the analysis revealed the presence of HCTZ in the products.
Increased Bonuses
On May 14, it was announced that the UFC would be increasing bonuses (Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night) from $50,000 to $75,000. This increase was for this event only and was made at the request of former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson.
Bonus Awards
The bonus awards for UFC 262 were as follows:
- Fight of the Night: Edson Barboza vs. Shane Burgos
- Performance of the Night: Charles Oliveira and Christos Giagos
Attendance and Reception
UFC 262 took place in Texas: Houston's Toyota Center. The event generated significant interest, with an estimated 300,000 domestic PPV buys.
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