Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler was scheduled to take place at UFC 303 on June 29, but it got postponed due to McGregor getting injured.
Now, Chandler has decided to fight #2 ranked UFC Lightweight Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden on November 16 (this PPV is expected to be headlined by Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic for the Heavyweight Title).
At UFC 262 in May 2021, Oliveira defeated Chandler via TKO to win the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship.
Dana White noted that McGregor vs. Chandler may still happen in 2025, but Chandler has decided to take a fight before that, as Chandler last fought in November 2022 (he has waited 2 years for the McGregor fight).
McGregor tweeted the following after this news came out:
“Chandler saw that takedown getting stuffed and mauled and officially dipped. Little Fat Pu$$y. I’m at the hard rock hotel Florida for the bare knuckle tonight. Got tested earlier today by DFSI. Give me my f**king date!”
On his YouTube channel, Chandler explained his decision to take the rematch against Oliveira, which will be a 5-round Lightweight (155 lbs) bout:
“I think you guys have forgotten over the last or so who Michael Chandler is. From October of 2020 to November of 2022, in a 25-month span, I did six training camps, one backup for the World Title fight, 5 fights in 25 months, four Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night bonuses, two Fight of the Year candidate, one Fight of the Year against Justin Gaethje, one KO of the Year against Tony Ferguson, one Debut of the Year against Dan Hooker. That is why I’m taking the Charles Oliveira fight.
Why? Because I took a quick little detour to chase this thing. I got more promo, more eyeballs, more of everything in the last year and half than I would have gotten in three fights, and now I get the opportunity to take a title run. I beat Charles Oliveira, I become the No. 1 contender. I beat Charles Oliveira, I can choose to go fight Islam or Arman (for the Lightweight Title). I believe it’s going to be Islam. Or, if Conor can finally get his house in order and put together a training camp, and show up to a fight, maybe I go fight Conor and we finish The Ultimate Fighter 31. This is the ultimate bet on yourself.
I still have [the McGregor fight], even though the fight is still to be determined. But I am pivoting. Why? Because I’m a fighter through and through, and I think you guys have forgotten that. Nobody would have had the balls to make this decision and bet on themselves like this.
And for me, this is personal. This is a revenge fight. Charles Oliveira stole my dream of becoming UFC Champion. My number one goal, becoming the No. 1 guy in the entire world. So now… we’re going to go beat him in the rematch.
I know Conor is already out there talking. Obviously he has to talk and throw shade at me and tell me I’m an idiot for squandering the bag. This is the biggest fight and now he’s just upset, he’s got his feelings hurt, because he realizes what I’ve realized the entire time but haven’t been public about it: I don’t need Conor McGregor to cement my legacy in this sport.
I’m here to be champion, I’m here to be No. 1. I dispatch Charles Oliveira November 16 at Madison Square Garden — which will be my third Fight of the Night at Madison Square Garden since I’ve been in the UFC. I’m going to go get my hand raised and then I’m going to go win the Title or I finally get the opportunity to snatch Conor McGregor’s soul out of his body.”
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