UFC No. 6 lightweight Michael Chandler has agreed to a rematch with former champion Charles Oliveira as anticipation surrounding his rumored fight with Conor McGregor fades.
In a Interview with Spinnin BackfistIn a statement released on Friday night, UFC President Dana White revealed that McGregor will no longer be fighting Iron Mike when their long-awaited return bout occurs.
“Chandler said, ‘I’m done waiting, I want to 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 at UFC 309 in November 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 gets a big headliner in the Big Apple.
Michael Chandler has agreed to fight Charles Oliveira but could still fight Conor McGregor
The rematch between Oliveira and Chandler will be the co-main event of UFC 306 in New York City.
“The fight with Conor can still happen in the future,” Fox said after receiving a call from White. “But Michael Chandler will take that fight first.”
“We’ll see what happens with Conor, he won’t be back until 2025,” Fox added.
McGregor has not set foot in the Octagon since breaking his tibia and losing his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Once McGregor was fit to compete again, Chandler became the dance partner of choice for his return. After the UFC set up the matchup with a season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2023, the fight was eventually announced for UFC 303 in June.
However, while fans held their breath waiting for the return of MMA’s biggest star, McGregor withdrew from the competition due to a toe injury.
More than two years after combining a picturesque front kick knockout of Tony Ferguson with a cinematic callout to McGregor, Chandler had grown tired of waiting and training in vain for the Irishman.
Conor McGregor has 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 defeated Chandler by knockout to claim the vacant UFC lightweight title in December 2021
Chandler’s last outing was 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. 1 155-pound contender Arman Tsarukyan at UFC 300.
After Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from the sport, the Bronxs faced Chandler for the vacant title in December 2021. In what was his ninth win out of 11 straight, the Brazilian scored a second-round knockout to become the lightweight king.
Oliveira defended the title against Poirier before missing weight in his win against Justin Gaethje, leaving the belt vacant. After being dethroned by the scale, he was submitted by current champion Islam Makhachev, who brought the title back to Dagestan.
With a win over Beneil Dariush sandwiched between the aforementioned losses, Oliveira has a record of 34-10 with 10 knockouts and a UFC-record 21 submissions.
As for Chandler, he comes into the rematch with a record of 23-8, which includes 11 knockouts and seven submission wins.