Conor McGregor makes demand as Michael Chandler confirms Charles Oliveira bout

An exasperated Conor McGregor has insisted he’s ‘out of the loop’ after rival Michael Chandler was handed a rematch with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.

The Notorious had been slated to face-off against Chandler since the pair started filming The Ultimate Fighter 31 in February 2023.

Two weeks prior to their planned clash on June 29 this year at UFC 303, McGregor was forced to pull out of the fight due to a broken pinky toe.

The Irishman has since claimed he would only fight when fully healed and UFC president Dana White has continually pushed back a potential date.

And now, to ensure Chandler is battle ready, he’s been given a fight with old rival Oliveira.

That match-up will happen in November – pushing back McGregor’s return to UFC even further with it now being more than three years since he broke his tibia against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

Clearly frustrated while at a Bare Knuckle FC event, McGregor reacted to the news.

“As far as Chandler rematching Oliveira, I’m happy with the date,” McGregor said.

“It’s November. Maybe we can still do it after, if they’re not going to line me up until December, maybe January or February, one of these dates.

“Maybe we can still do it. I’m just a bit out of the loop with it. All I can do is carry on doing what I’m doing. I test under the testing administration, I train daily, and that’s it. Let’s see what happens.

“Hopefully it all comes to fruition.”

And McGregor quickly issued a plea to his UFC boss White as he looks to get a bout of his own under his belt.

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“I’ve two fights left on my UFC contract,” McGregor said. “My opponent that I was scheduled to fight has rescheduled another bout.

“I would love maybe an exemption, or maybe a joint partnership, Bare Knuckle-UFC, similar to McGregor Sports and Entertainment and Mayweather Promotions. Some sort of agreement where we can get busy.

“I need to be busy and right now I’m working to get there. So let’s see what happens.”

McGregor is a part-owner of Bare-Knuckle FC and is an increasingly present figure at the events as he seeks to grow the company.

And while White and McGregor hold a good relationship, such a move, which occurred when he took on boxing icon Floyd Mayweather Jr, looks unlikely on the surface.

McGregor, though, is ready to wait, he added. “Patience is one of the most important skills a human being can possess, study, learn, and implement, and that’s where I’m at right now.”

Chandler, meanwhile, is delighter with the scenario he now finds himself in and wants to show the world exactly what he can do after his inactivity as he targets revenge – and then a shot at a healthy McGregor.

“I think you guys have forgotten over the last or so who Michael Chandler is,” Chandler said reacting to the news of his fight.

“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.

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“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.”

McGregor is never the type to stay quiet on these matters and took to social media too, suggesting Chandler had dodged him.

He posted on X: “Chandler saw that takedown getting stuffed and mauled and officially dipped. Little Fat P****. I’m at the hard rock hotel Florida for the bare knuckle tonight. Got tested earlier today by DFSI. Give me my f****** date!”

But Chandler was ready for everything that came his way.

“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.”