As a substitute of ready round for Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler will now run issues again with Charles Oliveira.
On Friday, Spinnin Backfist reported that Chandler and Oliveira will rematch in a five-round co-main occasion combat at UFC 309, which Chandler then confirmed on his personal YouTube channel, explaining his determination to maneuver on from his deliberate combat with McGregor, a minimum of for now.
“I believe you guys have forgotten during the last or so who Michael Chandler is,” Chandler stated. “From October of 2020 to November of 2022, in a 25-month span, I did six coaching camps, one backup for the world title combat, 5 fights in 25 months, 4 Combat of the Evening or Efficiency of the Evening bonuses, two Combat of the Yr candidate, one Combat of the Yr in opposition to Justin Gaethje, one KO of the Yr in opposition to Tony Ferguson, one Debut of the Yr in opposition to Dan Hooker… That’s the reason I’m taking the Charles Oliveira combat.
“Why? As a result of I took a fast little detour to chase this factor… I bought extra promo, extra eyeballs, extra of every little thing within the final 12 months and half than I’d have gotten in three fights, and now I get the chance to take a title run. I beat Charles Oliveira, I change into the No. 1 contender. I beat Charles Oliveira, I can select to go combat Islam or Arman. I imagine it’s going to be Islam. Or, if Conor can lastly get his home so as and put collectively a coaching camp, and present as much as a combat, perhaps I’m going combat Conor and we end The Final Fighter 31. That is the last word guess on your self…
“I nonetheless have [the McGregor fight], although the combat continues to be to be decided. However I’m pivoting. Why? As a result of I’m a fighter via and thru, and I believe you guys have forgotten that. No person would have had the balls to make this determination and guess on themselves like this.
“And for me, that is private. It is a revenge combat. Charles Oliveira stole my dream of changing into UFC champion. My primary aim, changing into the No. 1 man in your complete world. So now… we’re going to go beat him within the rematch.”
Chandler has spent the previous two years pursuing a combat with McGregor, even serving as a coach reverse the previous two-division champion on The Final Fighter. The 2 had been lastly scheduled to combat at UFC 303, till McGregor withdrew from the bout a number of weeks out on account of a toe damage. With Chandler now shifting on from the combat, he expects McGregor to have a scathing response, however Chandler went on to clarify why that’s not necessary.
“I do know Conor is already on the market speaking,” Chandler stated. “Clearly he has to speak and throw shade at me and inform me I’m an fool for squandering the bag. That is the largest combat and now he’s simply upset, he’s bought his emotions harm, as a result of he realizes what I’ve realized your complete time however haven’t been public about it: I don’t want Conor McGregor to cement my legacy on this sport.
“I’m right here to be champion, I’m right here to be No. 1. I dispatch Charles Oliveira Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard — which can be my third Combat of the Evening at Madison Sq. Backyard since I’ve been within the UFC. I’m going to go get my hand raised after which I’m going to go win the title or I lastly get the chance to grab Conor McGregor’s soul out of his physique.”
Chandler and Oliveira first met again in 2021 at UFC 262 with the vacant light-weight title on the road, with Oliveira successful by second-round knockout.
Whereas not but official, a heavyweight title matchup between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic is count on to headline UFC 309, which takes place on Nov. 16 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis.
