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Michael Chandler vs. Charles Oliveira set for UFC 309; Conor McGregor fight not yet confirmed | News, results, highlights, stats and rumors

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 13: (LR) Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler compete during filming of The Ultimate Fighter at UFC APEX on March 13, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

UFC President Dana White announced on Friday that Michael Chandler's next fight will not be against Conor McGregor.

“Chandler said, 'I'm tired of waiting. I want to fight,'” White revealed.

However, White later left open the possibility that this fight could take place sometime later. Chandler's next fight, however, will be a rematch with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on November 16 in New York.

Spinnin Backfist @SpinningBackfist

🚨LATEST NEWS
Conor McGregor COULD face Chandler next, but Chandler wanted to fight sooner.
so instead we get this BANG
Michael Chandler vs Charles Oliveira
UFC 309 | New York City | November 16th
above @SpinninBackfist / @RobbieBarstool pic.twitter.com/IB5s5rTFYy

Oliveira defeated Chandler by TKO at UFC 262 in May 2021.

As for McGregor and Chandler, the two's first fight was scheduled to take place at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024, after serving as opposing coaches in 2023. The Ultimate Fighter 31However, just a few weeks before the fight, it was cancelled because McGregor had broken his toe.

McGregor, 36, last fought in July 2021, breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier. He has now lost three of his last four UFC fights, including two bouts against Poirier. He is now 22-6 in his MMA career.

Chandler, meanwhile, hasn't fought since November 2022, also a loss to Poirier. The 38-year-old has also lost three of his last four fights and is now 23-8 in his career.

In early August, Chandler seemed open to the possibility of facing someone other than McGregor in his next fight, as he told Lucky Block (h/t Drake Riggs by MMA Mania):

“I'm an optimist by nature, so I believe the Conor fight will happen. Right now we're at a stage where things are being talked about. What date? Is it Conor? Will it be another fight? Is it the best decision for me and my family? I love the idea that Conor and I did The Ultimate Fighter, we had a training camp, we signed. But as much as I respect Conor, my legacy is not dependent on this fight. I'm running my own race and I'm continuing to progress. I'm at the point now where we're looking at all options and not just fighting Conor.”

White, meanwhile, said earlier this week that McGregor will return to the Octagon in 2025.

“Let me tell you this: I was the one who said this year that he was not going to fight this year, despite all the rumors and everything else,” he told reporters. “Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025.”

Whether this is directed against Chandler or not remains to be seen.

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