Michael Chandler revealed he almost fought Max Holloway at UFC 306 after his bout with Conor McGregor fell through, but now looks forward to a rematch with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 and keeps options open for future fights with McGregor, Islam Makhachev, and potentially Holloway in 2025.
Michael Chandler claims he almost fought at UFC 306.
Chandler, who has long been tied to a fight with Conor McGregor, now faces Charles Oliveira in a five-round, co-main event rematch at UFC 309 on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden.
During a media scrum at this past Saturday’s pay-per-view event at Sphere in Las Vegas, Chandler revealed that after his scheduled bout with McGregor at UFC 303 fell through, the UFC wanted to book a “BMF” title fight with Holloway instead.
“I almost was going to fight [at UFC 306],” Chandler said. “It was offered to fight Max. I respect Max because Max is a champion, Max is going to beat Ilia Topuria, I believe.”
Chandler says he’s still going to keep his options open for the long-awaited fight with McGregor, but also called his bout with Oliveira a “No. 1 contender” fight.
If McGregor isn’t ready after that, “Iron” will gladly fight lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
As far as the Holloway fight goes, Chandler accepted it, but he says — with complete understanding of the situation — that the upcoming challenger for Topuria’s featherweight title at UFC 308 turned it down.
“I think it was realistic for me because I was already in camp, in shape, and ready to go,” Chandler explained.
“I bring that up, not to… you know, guys throw these things out there to act like tough guys — I don’t do this to act like a tough guy. If I was Max, I wouldn’t have taken the fight either.”
“I was pumped up that, maybe, it was a possible opportunity — Chandler vs. Holloway, BMF belt, at the Sphere [at UFC 306] — but if I was him, I wouldn’t have taken it either.
“He was on vacation or doing something; he was enjoying some well-deserved time off and wasn’t ready to get in a camp and fight someone like me.”
While Chandler didn’t get to face a man he has tremendous respect for in Holloway at UFC 306, the three-time Bellator lightweight champion believes the fan-friendly tilt could certainly happen next year.
“That’s a fight, I think, is going to happen in 2025 and I’m excited about it,” Chandler said.
“It’s Oliveira, it’s Islam, it’s Conor, it’s Max; we’ve got some huge fights coming up. They’re all going to be exciting; you guys are going to be there; you’re all going to be covering; you’re all going to be on the edge of your seats.”