After two years Michael Chandler has finally moved on from waiting for super-fight with Conor McGregor.
Dana White revealed this in an interview with Robbie Fox from Spinnin Backfist saying Chandler’s next fight won’t be McGregor and is moving on. Fox then made a post following a phone call from Dana to make a correction and reveal. Dana essentially told Chandler vs McGregor may still happen but Chandler will have a fight in the meantime. And the match up that was revealed is a rematch with Charles Oliveira in a 5 round co-main event at Madison Square Garden.
Charles Olivera Vs Michael Chandler Set for UFC 309 Clash
So, we will be seeing a rematch between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler. The first time the two collided was for the vacant lightweight title after Khabib Nurmagoemdov retired. Oliveira was coming off a 9 fight win streak having won a decision over Tony Ferguson. Chandler was riding a 3 fight win streak with his most recent win being his obliteration of Dan Hooker in his first fight in the UFC.
The fight was extremely exciting with Chandler having a lot of success in the 1st round almost finishing Oliveira. However, Oliveira would come back in the 2nd round a knock out Michael Chandler to claim lightweight gold. And now after 3 years they will run it back. Since the first fight Olivera had his amazing run as champion, was dethroned by Islam, destroyed Dariush, was scheduled to rematch Islam but suffered a cut and pulled out, and recently lost a close decision to Arman.
Chandler since then has lost to Gaethje in a barnburner, decimated what was left of Tony Ferguson, and subbed by Poirier in a close fight. Chandler since 2022 then has spent 2 years waiting for that McGregor fight that never happened. Until now where he finally decided to move on realising waiting for McGregor is a fruitless endeavour.
The rematch should be just as entertaining as the first fight. However, things have become more tricky for Chandler taking a lot of damage in his career since the first fight.
Chandler has also been very inactive compared to Oliveira which doesn’t bode well. But, this is the card Chandler has been dealt with his decision to wait for Conor. Victory for either man could result in the Conor fight for early next year. Let us know who you think will win the rematch.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
