Michael Chandler Set to Fight Charles Oliveira at UFC 309

UFC lightweight Michael Chandler is passing up a fight against Conor McGregor — at least for now.

Chandler (23-8) will face Charles Oliveira (34-10) in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309 on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden, UFC president Dana White told Barstool Sports on Friday night. The UFC had not yet announced a main event for that card, but an announcement was expected soon.

The news doesn’t necessarily mean Chandler won’t fight McGregor (22-6), whom he coached on “The Ultimate Fighter” in 2023. The two were scheduled to fight in June, but McGregor was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a toe injury. It was the first time McGregor has pulled out of a scheduled bout. He hasn’t fought since 2021.

McGregor has claimed on social media that he wants to fight in 2024, and recently even posted videos of himself training. However, the UFC has publicly stated that he won’t fight until 2025.

“Chandler saw that arrest dismissed and vilified (on social media) and was officially dumped,” McGregor wrote on X Friday night, adding that he had taken a drug test earlier that day.

He continued, “Give me my f—ing date!”

Chandler, a former Bellator MMA lightweight champion, has not fought since his 2022 loss to Dustin Poirier, largely because he decided to wait for a fight with McGregor.

The bout at UFC 309 will be a rematch of a vacant championship bout that took place in 2021. Chandler hurt Oliveira with punches in the opening round of the bout before suffering a TKO loss to Oliveira in the second round. Oliveira defended the belt twice before losing it to current champion Islam Makhachev.