Bussin' With The Boys: Best of the Bus – Michael Chandler on the Emotions of Getting In The Octagon

Date: September 20, 2025
Guests: Michael Chandler
Hosts: Will Compton & Taylor Lewan

Episode Overview

This powerful “Best of the Bus” episode revisits Michael Chandler’s appearance just two days after his grueling bout against Charles Oliveira at Madison Square Garden. Chandler, a three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion and one of UFC’s most celebrated fighters, offers an unfiltered account of the physical and emotional journey back into the octagon after a two-year layoff. The boys dig deep into Chandler’s mindset, pain, strategy, and the lessons learned from one of the most intense 25 minutes of his career. The conversation is candid, vulnerable, and packed with Chandler’s trademark heart.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Raw Aftermath: Managing Pain and Perspective

• Chandler’s Physical State Post-Fight:

  • Chandler describes the physical toll: "Body is Jack. My heart is full... The most pain I've ever been in my entire life. Like, the most injuries I've ever had in a fight, for sure." (03:08)
  • Detailed issues: peeing blood, swelling, possible rhabdomyolysis, and more: "First one was very light... Second one was like, beet-looking juice. It was dark." (03:43–04:06)

• Staying Present and Grateful:

  • "My heart is full... I’m just happy to be home, you know, it was good. Had a phenomenal training camp. We went to war. We did our thing." (03:14)

2. Pre-Fight Emotions & Mental Warfare

• The Psychological Toll:

  • The hosts and Chandler discuss the flood of nerves, doubts, overconfidence, and emotional whiplash pre-fight:
    • "Nerves are huge right before, like all the doubts, the insecurities, the wondering, the overconfidence, it's all like a, a flush of emotions all at once." (05:56)
  • Chandler’s focus as the cage door shuts: "I try to stay pretty present, man, I try to stay pretty myself and really just focus on being a human being. And as soon as the cage door closes and then Bruce is in there, it’s... The game's about to start." (05:13)

• Strategic Transparency and Mind Tricks:

  • Chandler admits he may have said too much in interviews, tipping off Oliveira to his new approach:
    • "I talked about the whole Chandler 2.0, Chandler 1.0. Maybe gave it a little bit of too much information..." (06:50)
  • He reflects on being authentic, even if it means giving up strategic advantages.

3. Return After Two Years – Embracing the Moment

• Feeling the Energy:

  • Chandler’s visualization and preparation:
    • "Hadn’t been in a locker room like that, warming up for two years... went out to the arena, smelled it... there’s an energy out there, a smell, and there’s a feel and there’s a taste..." (11:21–12:58)

• Staying Grounded Amidst the Hype:

  • Chandler worked on pulling himself “back down” amidst the pre-fight adrenaline:
    • "I did have to pull myself back down... I just truly thought me trying to win by one, I was still going to win by a thousand." (13:15–14:29)

4. Entering the Cage – The Walkout, The Opponent, The Mind Games

• Walkout Music & Mentality:

  • Special notes on his walkout song and how the lyrics reflected his “F everybody” mindset (09:47)
  • Chandler’s intention: “I’m not here to prove the doubters wrong. I’m here to prove my supporters right...” (09:47)

• Facing Oliveira & Respect:

  • Chandler and Oliveira exchange respect before battle:
    • "No, me and Charles are very respectful. Respectful, man. It’s a big hug, you know, God bless you type of thing..." (15:15–15:17)

• Pre-Fight Rumors:

  • Chandler addresses rumors about Oliveira possibly pulling out and the effects of late opponent changes:
    • "I think it was more. There was some gamesmanship, I think... But I wasn't worried about it at all." (19:50–20:24)

5. Tactical Adjustments – Chandler 2.0

• New Approach:

  • Chandler reveals a new, more strategic fight plan:
    • "I threw him into a scenario... instead of trying to force my way out of the position, I was completely okay saying for the first time in my life, I conceded a round." (07:31, 21:42–22:36)

• Learning During the Fight:

  • Chandler describes being more tactical: checking the clock, conserving energy, and not forcing risky moments:
    • "I was strategic. I looked over at the clock. I’ve never seen a clock ever in my 32-fight career." (22:42)

• Oliveira’s Ground Game and Chandler’s Defense:

  • Chandler discusses Oliveira’s threats from the back and his own escapes:
    • "I definitely had a moment or two where... I’m not that far away from being choked out right now." (26:12)

6. Physical Challenges – Injuries & Adversity

• Leg Issues and Adaptation:

  • Chandler likely suffered a knee injury early in the fight:
    • "I think something happened to the knee in that first exchange... I looked down at my left leg and it was not working right." (28:10–29:08)
  • He continued to fight despite instability and pain, determined not to seek excuses:
    • "My default is never. Okay, where’s my excuses? Where’s my excuse buttons? Like, I don't have those." (31:30)

• Falls, Slips, and Struggles:

  • Frequent loss of footing and unusual falls, analyzed openly with the hosts:
    • "I just kept falling... I'm a decently athletic guy... And I'm better at fighting than I am softball. But, like, I just kept falling." (32:39–32:56)

7. The Money Round – Chandler’s Near Comeback

• Fifth Round Heart:

  • Chandler goes all out in the final round, nearly finishing Oliveira and igniting the arena:
    • "When you landed that first one, dog, and I tell you, I was so mad when you missed those two. I was like, cause you had him." (37:56–38:12)
  • The crowd erupts; Chandler reflects on those inches that could have changed the outcome:
    • "Hindsight is always 2020, man. If you could just put me back in that moment, I would have just pushed off, made him come back up." (39:17)

• Power Slams and Crowd Reactions:

  • Chandler pulls off two energetic slams despite exhaustion and injury:
    • "I looked right at freaking Donald Trump and Kid Rock on the first one... Hunter Campbell had his hands like this... and we like locked eyes." (46:31–46:59)

• Respectful Finish:

  • A touching moment at the end:
    • "[On the ‘tap’ at the end]...It was a show of respect... Not tapping. It was a pat on the competitor." (48:43–49:28)

8. What Comes Next?

• Future Fights:

  • Chandler shares his ambitions for fighting Islam Makhachev, Max Holloway for the BMF belt, or Conor McGregor next:
    • "Looks like it's going to be Connor next." (52:23)
    • “If [Conor] comes back, he’s fighting me.” (54:02)

• On Being a Draw:

  • "I might be the only guy in the UFC who will guarantee that you will have an oh moment. And I wear that proudly." (54:02)

9. Reflections Beyond the Fight

• Family & Home Life:

  • Chandler opens up about the toll on his wife and family during fight camps:
    • "She had a tough time with this one because she hadn't done it in two years... she's just handling all that, and also the emotions." (75:09)
  • Post-fight gratitude: "You're excited that I get to come home and just be dad and husband for a little while." (76:54)

• Weight Cutting & Discipline:

  • Chandler shares the grueling details of dropping weight and the discipline required:
    • "Calorie restricted every day... My resting metabolic rate was like 3500 to 3800... I was ingesting 1200 to 1500 calories a day." (63:16)

• Fun Banter and Camaraderie:

  • The boys joke about Thanksgiving eating contests and weight cuts.
    • “Bussing Bloated Boys” and “Bussing Busty Boys” as hashtag ideas for weight gain competitions. (72:48–73:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Pain and Grit:

  • “Peed blood. Inflammation all over my whole body swollen. I feel like, you know, my legs...” (03:32)
  • “I was unconscious on my feet. My eyes were open, but I was unconscious.” (08:45)

• On His Mindset:

  • “It doesn’t matter if I was out for 10 years... None of that stuff matters, man, because you’re doing exactly what you were called to do.” (11:21)
  • “I’m not here to prove the doubters wrong. I’m here to prove my supporters right.” (09:47)

• On Walking Into MSG:

  • “There is nowhere else in the entire world I was supposed to be than in Madison Square Garden at that moment.” (11:21)

• On Tactical Change:

  • “For the first time in my life, I conceded a round. I let him stay on top, and I let him win the round because I had 20 more minutes to fight." (22:36)

• Fifth Round Drama:

  • “I thought they were going to call the fight. I got my phone out, I’m recording the TV. I’m like, come on, bro, you got it.” (38:04)
  • “The entire Madison Square Garden is on their feet… they’re like, he’s gonna do it again, bro.” (50:26)

• On UFC Draw and Legacy:

  • “I might be the only guy in the UFC who will guarantee that you will have an oh moment.” (54:02)

• Family Reflection:

  • “It was tough before the fight because she hadn’t done it in two years… but you’re just happy it’s over, you know?” (75:09–76:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Chandler’s Immediate Post-Fight Pain: 03:08–04:24
• Mental Preparation & Walkout Feelings: 05:13–06:50, 11:14–12:58
• Discussing Fight Strategy (“Chandler 2.0”): 06:50–08:35, 21:20–22:36
• Injury Insights & Fighting Through Pain: 28:10–29:39, 31:24–32:56
• Fifth Round and Near-Finish: 37:56–39:41, 46:01–48:31
• Future Fight Calls and Reflections: 52:23–54:23, 62:28–63:38
• Family Impact & Emotional Fallout: 75:03–76:58

Final Thoughts

Michael Chandler’s "raw, inspiring, and full of Chandler energy" debrief with the Bussin’ With The Boys hosts shines a light on what it means to fight at the highest level — not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. The episode is a testament to the heart it takes to step into the octagon, the vulnerability of elite athletes, and the bonds forged through battle. It’s a deeply human conversation, rich in insight and camaraderie.

“We don’t go gently. Win, lose, or draw, we brawl.”
— Michael Chandler (77:10)