No 6 UFC lightweight Michael Chandler accepted a rematch with former champion Charles Oliveira as the hype around his supposed fight with Conor McGregor fizzles out.
In an interview with Spinnin Backfist, which came out on Friday night, UFC president Dana White revealed that McGregor will no longer fight Iron Mike when his highly-anticipated return bout happens.
‘Chandler said ‘I’m done waiting, I wanna fight,” White said in the interview.
Shortly after, Barstool Sports’ Robbie Fox, who conducted the interview, posted a follow-up revealing that Chandler and Oliveira will fight in November’s UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
The lightweights will compete in a five-round co-main event as Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic’s legacy fight for the UFC heavyweight title headlines at the Big Apple.
Michael Chandler accepted a fight with Charles Oliveira but may still fight Conor McGregor
Oliveira and Chandler’s rematch will be the co-main event for UFC 306 in New York City
‘The Conor fight still may happen in the future,’ Fox noted after getting a call from White. ‘But Michael Chandler is taking that fight first.’
‘We’ll see what happens with Conor, he’s not gonna be back till 2025,’ Fox added.
McGregor has not set foot in the Octagon since breaking his tibia and losing his trilogy with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Once McGregor was fit to compete again, Chandler became the targeted dance partner for his return. After the UFC built up the matchup with a season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023, the fight was finally announced for UFC 303 in June.
However, as fans held their breath for the return of MMA’s biggest star, McGregor pulled out of the contest due to a toe injury.
Over two years after he parlayed a picturesque frontkick knockout over Tony Ferguson with a cinematic call out to McGregor, Chandler grew tired of waiting and training in vain for the Irishman.
Conor McGregor is yet to fight since breaking his tibia in a loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021
McGregor vs Chandler was announced for UFC 303 in June before the Irishman pulled out
Oliveira beat Chandler via knockout for the vacant UFC lightweight title in December 2021
Chandler’s last outing came in November 2022 at MSG when he lost to Poirier via submission.
On the other hand, Oliveira is also coming off a loss to No 1 155lb contender Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300.
After Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from the sport, Do Bronxs met Chandler for the vacant title in December 2021. In what was the ninth win of 11 straight, the Brazilian scored a knockout in the second round to become the king of the lightweights.
Oliveira went on to defend the title against Poirier before missing weight in his win against Justin Gaethje, leaving the belt vacant. After getting dethroned by the scale, he was submitted by reigning champion Islam Makhachev who brought the title back to Dagestan.
With a win over Beneil Dariush sandwiched between the aforementioned losses, Oliveira holds a 34-10 record with 10 knockouts and a UFC record of 21 submissions.
As for Chandler, he enters the rematch with a 23-8 record, which includes 11 knockouts and seven submission victories.
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