No. 6 UFC lightweight Michael Chandler accepted a rematch with former champion Charles Oliveira as the hype surrounding his rumored fight with Conor McGregor died down.
In a interview with Spinnin Backfistwhich came out Friday night, UFC president Dana White announced that McGregor will no longer fight Iron Mike when his long-awaited comeback takes place.
“Chandler said, ‘I’m done waiting, I want to fight,’” White said in the interview.
Shortly after, Robbie Fox of Barstool Sports, who conducted the interview, posted a follow-up message revealing that Chandler and Oliveira will fight in November at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
The lightweights will battle in a five-round co-main event, while Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic’s legendary fight for the UFC heavyweight title takes center stage in the Big Apple.
Michael Chandler has accepted a fight with Charles Oliveira, but may still fight Conor McGregor
The rematch between Oliveira and Chandler will be the co-main event for UFC 306 in New York City
“The Conor fight could still happen in the future,” Fox noted after receiving a call from White. “But Michael Chandler is going to take that fight first.”
“We’ll see what happens with Conor, he’s not coming back until 2025,” Fox added.
McGregor has not set foot in the Octagon since breaking his shin and losing his trilogy fight to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Once McGregor was fit to compete again, Chandler became the intended dance partner for his return. After the UFC built up the matchup with a season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023, the bout was finally announced for UFC 303 in June.
As fans held their breath for the return of MMA’s biggest star, McGregor withdrew from the bout due to a toe injury.
More than two years after he delivered a stunning front kick knockout of Tony Ferguson and made a cinematic call out to McGregor, Chandler was tired of waiting and training in vain on the Irishman.
Conor McGregor has yet to fight since breaking his shinbone 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 defeated Chandler via knockout for the vacant UFC lightweight title in December 2021
Chandler’s last appearance was in November 2022 at MSG, when he lost to Poirier via submission.
Oliveira, on the other hand, also suffered a defeat to No. 1 155lb contender Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300.
After Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from the sport, Do Bronxs took on Chandler for the vacant title in December 2021. In what was his ninth win in eleven straight fights, the Brazilian scored a second-round knockout to become the king of the lightweights.
Oliveira defended the title against Poirier, but came in at a loss in his victory over Justin Gaethje, leaving the belt vacant. After being dethroned on the scale, he was defeated by reigning champion Islam Makhachev, who brought the title back to Dagestan.
With a win over Beneil Dariush in between the aforementioned losses, Oliveira has a record of 34-10 with 10 knockouts and a UFC record 21 submissions.
Chandler enters the revenge match with a record of 23-8, with 11 knockouts and seven wins by submission.
