Michael Chandler is looking past his upcoming bout with Charles Oliveira.
The rematch between the former three-time Bellator champion and Oliviera takes place at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden on November 16.
Chandler will be seeking revenge as ‘Do Bronx’ was able to weather an early storm in the first round before knocking out the American in the second round at UFC 262 in May 2021.
Three years on with different stakes on the line, the winner will throw themselves into title contention to face current champion Islam Makhachev.
Michael Chandler Names Three Man Hit List for 2025
UFC 281 in November 2022 was the last time we saw Chandler in the cage, suffering a third-round submission defeat to Dustin Poirier.
Chandler will be wanting to make up for lost time and aims to have an action packed 12 months in 2025.
Conor McGregor is one of the names included on the three-man hitlist, the pair were meant to meet at UFC 303 in June.
Lightweight Champion Makhachev made the list along with BMF champion Max Holloway, who announced his move to the lightweight division following his knockout defeat to 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 Reacts to Rumours
During the week rumors were going around that there was an issue with Chandler and the UFC were looking for a replacement.
Dustin Poirier along with Renato Moicano both put themselves forward to save the co-main event if needed.
As it stands they appear to be just rumors, with no official word coming from the UFC and Chandler continues to post on his Instagram showing him looking shredded for his comeback.
“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.”
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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
