Conor McGregor named on Michael Chandler's three-man hitlist for 2025: 'There is unfinished business'
11/08/2024 06:01 AM
Michael Chandler is already looking beyond his fight with Charles Oliviera.
The former three-time Bellator champion is hoping to get revenge against 'Do Bronx' at UFC 309, which takes place at Madison Square Garden in New York on November 16.
Oliveira survived a tough opening frame in their first fight before knocking out his opponent in the second round to claim the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in May 2021.
Three years later, they will clash again for the chance to face current champion Islam Makhachev, who is expected to defend his belt against top contender Arman Tsarukyan during the first few months of 2025.
Michael Chandler wants three big fights in 2025
Michael Chandler hasn't fought since suffering a third-round submission defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022, so he wants to make up for lost time.
The 38-year-old is planning to be extremely active over the next 12 months.
Ahead of his fight with Oliveira, Chandler has named Conor McGregor, who he was supposed to fight at UFC 303 in June, on a three-man list of fighters he expects to face in 2025.
Of course, Makhachev also makes the list, and so does BMF champion Max Holloway after he recently confirmed his full-time move to lightweight following a knockout loss to featherweight king Ilia Topuria.
“The title is the No. 1 goal, but there is unfinished business,” he told CBS Sports. “Chandler vs. McGregor from ‘TUF 31.’ That chapter needs to close at some point. Conor wants that fight. He’s talked about it openly in public interviews. Obviously, I want that fight.”
"You must also remember that Islam is probably fighting in late January. He’s going into Ramadan in February and all of March. He won’t be able to go into a training camp until April. He won’t be able to fight until June or July. I’m not trying to wait until June or July.”
“Conor could sneak in there. We could see Chandler vs. Oliveira, Chandler vs. McGregor, Chandler vs. Makhachev and Chandler vs. Holloway. The craziest four-fight run in a 12-month period that anyone has ever seen.”
Charles Oliveira addresses UFC 309 rumors
Earlier this week, rumors began to circulate that there were issues on the side of Chandler and that the promotion was looking for a last-minute replacement.
Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano tossed their names in the hat, stating that they would step in on short notice to fight in the UFC 309 co-main event.
Despite that, there’s been no official word from the UFC that the co-main event between Oliveira and Chandler is off, and Oliveira believes it will still happen.
"We think it's gonna happen, dude, I'm ready, I'm almost traveling, I'm about to go (to New York)," Oliveira told New York Post Sports.
He added: "I'm gonna start doing the same thing when I see there's a fight about to fall or something like that, I'm like, 'Hey dude I'm here', I'm gonna do the same thing, man."
Chandler continues to post pictures on social media that show he's in tremendous shape for his first fight in two years.
Right now, it appears rumors about Oliveira vs Chandler 2 falling apart at the last minute were just that, and the fight will go ahead as planned next weekend.
- READ MORE:Daniel Cormier names four-man list of fighters Max Holloway should face instead of Dustin Poirier
