Michael Chandler and his dream of facing Conor McGregor was left on hold, but a major opportunity has now surfaced. With McGregor side-lined until 2025 due to injury, Chandler finds himself on a new path—a rematch against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, taking place in New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The shift is a twist Chandler is embracing, seeing it as the perfect next step.
For Chandler, this fight is a chance to right a personal wrong. In a recent chat with the New York Post, he expressed his drive to face Oliveira once more, motivated by a loss that still resonates deeply.
“It couldn’t have been scripted any better,” Chandler shared, “To beat a guy who has now beaten me for the world title. I had one goal when I got into the sport, to be the number one guy in the world, to be widely regarded unanimously as the number one guy in the world. Charles Oliveira stole that from me, beat me fair and square, but he stole that dream from me, and now I get the opportunity to right that wrong in my mind, show up a better fighter, get my hand raised, and then when I beat Charles Oliveira, I am the highest-ranked guy in the lightweight division not named Arman Tsarukyan or Islam Makhachev.”
Michael Chandler Seeks Redemption at UFC 309
With UFC 309 approaching, Chandler is clear about his intentions. Beyond defeating Oliveira, he’s already eyeing the next steps in the lightweight division. His rematch represents a significant milestone in his journey, especially after the let-down of the McGregor bout.
Reflecting on the matchup, Chandler expressed confidence in his readiness and his vision for the future.
“So, I’ll be cageside watching that fight to watch who my next fight is, who I’m gonna fight for the title,” he continued, “So, you couldn’t have scripted it any better, and it’s at Madison Square Garden, where I have currently been defeated.”
Chandler’s ambition is to re-establish himself at the top and potentially compete for the title against whoever emerges from the much-anticipated Makhachev vs. Tsarukyan showdown, tentatively set for early 2025. The outcome of UFC 309 will play a pivotal role in shaping the lightweight division, and Chandler sees it as his moment to reclaim the spotlight.
How do you think the rematch plays out between Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
