Michael Chander explains why he’s fighting Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 instead of Conor McGregor

Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler face off | Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Instead of waiting around for Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler will now run things back with Charles Oliveira.

On Friday, Spinnin Backfist reported that Chandler and Oliveira will rematch in a five-round co-main event fight at UFC 309, which Chandler then confirmed on his own YouTube channel, explaining his decision to move on from his planned fight with McGregor, at least for now.

“I think you guys have forgotten over the last or so who Michael Chandler is,” Chandler said. “From October of 2020 to November of 2022, in a 25-month span, I did six training camps, one backup 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 candidate, 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... I got more promo, more eyeballs, more of everything in the last year and half than I would have gotten in three fights, and now I get the opportunity to take a title run. I beat Charles Oliveira, I become the No. 1 contender. I beat Charles Oliveira, I can choose to go fight Islam or Arman. I believe it’s going to be Islam. Or, if Conor can finally get his house in order and put together a training camp, and show up to a fight, maybe I go fight Conor and we finish The Ultimate Fighter 31. This is the ultimate bet on yourself...

“I still have [the McGregor fight], even though the fight is still to be determined. But I am pivoting. Why? Because I’m a fighter through and through, and I think you guys have forgotten that. Nobody would have had the balls to make this decision and bet on themselves like this.

“And for me, this is personal. This is a revenge fight. Charles Oliveira stole my dream of becoming UFC champion. My number one goal, becoming the No. 1 guy in the entire world. So now... we’re going to go beat him in the rematch.”

Chandler has spent the past two years pursuing a fight with McGregor, even serving as a coach opposite the former two-division champion on The Ultimate Fighter. The two were finally scheduled to fight at UFC 303, until McGregor withdrew from the bout a few weeks out due to a toe injury. With Chandler now moving on from the fight, he expects McGregor to have a scathing response, but Chandler went on to explain why that’s not important.

“I know Conor is already out there talking,” Chandler said. “Obviously he has to talk and throw shade at me and tell me I’m an idiot for squandering the bag. This is the biggest fight and now he’s just upset, he’s got his feelings hurt, because he realizes what I’ve realized the entire time but haven’t been public about it: I don’t need Conor McGregor to cement my legacy in this sport.

“I’m here to be champion, I’m here to be No. 1. I dispatch Charles Oliveira Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden — which will be my third Fight of the Night at Madison Square Garden since I’ve been in the UFC. I’m going to go get my hand raised and then I’m going to go win the title or I finally get the opportunity to snatch Conor McGregor’s soul out of his body.”

Chandler and Oliveira first met back in 2021 at UFC 262 with the vacant lightweight title on the line, with Oliveira winning by second-round knockout.

While not yet official, a heavyweight title matchup between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic is expect to headline UFC 309, which takes place on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.