It’s been over 22 months since Michael Chandler fought in the UFC, largely due to waiting for Conor McGregor to compete.
Time’s up, and Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has officially moved on.
Friday, the former lightweight title challenger confirmed his next fight will take place at UFC 309 against former champion Charles Oliveira. It will be a rematch of their bout at UFC 262 in 2021, where Oliveira (34-10 MMA, 22-10 UFC) claimed the vacant lightweight title by finishing Chandler in the second round.
Chandler knows the risk of challenging Oliveira again but calls the decision “the ultimate bet on yourself.” In a pair of videos posted online, Chandler explained his reasoning.
“I think you guys have forgotten over the last year or so who Michael Chandler is,” Chandler said in a YouTube video. “From October of 2020, I signed with the organization in September, from October of 2020 to November of 2022, in a 25-month span, I did six training camps, one backup fight for the world title fight. Five fights in 25 months. Four Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night bonuses. Two Fight of the Year candidates, one Fight of the Year against Justin Gaethje, one KO of the Year against Tony Ferguson, one Debut of the Year against Dan Hooker.
“… That is why I’m taking the Charles Oliveira fight. Why? Because I took a quick little detour to chase this thing. The opportunity of ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’ … I got more promo, more eyeballs, more of everything in the last year and a half than I would have gotten with three fights, and now I get the opportunity to take a title run.”
When news of Chandler’s decision to take another fight reached McGregor, the Irishman issued a fiery tweet in response.
“Chander saw that takedown getting stuffed and mauled and officially dipped,” McGregor wrote on X (formerly Twitter).” Little Fat P*ssy.” I’m at the hard rock hotel Florida for the bare knuckle tonight. Got tested earlier today by DFSI. Give me my f*cking date!”
Undeterred by McGregor’s words but inspired to elaborate, Chandler posted another video on Instagram to issue a dismissive reply and further detail why he wants to keep fighting rather than wait for a fight that may never come.
“I’m not even going to respond to Conor’s stupid little tweet, acting like I dipped,” Chandler said in an Instagram video. “The simple fact of the matter is, you are the most unreliable human being that has ever graced mixed martial arts.
“So, what am I going to do? I’m going to fight Charles Oliveira. Why am I going to fight Charles Oliveira? Number one, it’s a badass fight. Number two, it’s a rematch. It’s a redemption story for me. The dude who already stole from me – rightfully so, in a fair fight – he stole my dreams, shattered my dreams of becoming UFC champion.”
A victory over Oliveira would keep his name on the shortlist of UFC lightweight title challengers. Essentially, Chandler is confident the world would be his oyster if he gets his hand raised.
“Now I get the opportunity to fight Charles Oliviera, become the No. 1 contender, and then I’ve got options,” Chandler said. “If Conor can finally get his house in order, if he can finally string together a couple of sober days, string together a couple of days where he’s actually training and actually feeling good, and he can actually finally, finally make good on his promise of the greatest comeback in combat sports history, if he can finally pony up, then I will fight Conor after I dispatch of Charles Oliveira.
“Or, Islam Makhachev, you are next in 2025, and I will be the champion by the end of 2025.”
