Who doesn’t want to fight Conor McGregor with the hope of securing a huge payday opposite the UFC’s biggest draw?
Michael Chandler does. The UFC lightweight contender called out McGregor after he knocked out Tony Ferguson in May at UFC 274. In subsequent interviews, Chandler has continued to bring up McGregor’s name.
You know who else wants to fight McGregor? Charles Oliveira. The former lightweight champion also called out McGregor after his first-round submission of Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 and has continued his campaign.
On Friday, Oliveira, who’s in line to fight for the vacant title, told MMA Junkie that he would like it to be against McGregor rather than Islam Makhachev, who seemingly has been the front runner.
“If I must choose, it’d be Conor McGregor, as the guy who is putting the money in my bank account,” Oliveira said. “If I’m going to choose, I’m going to choose Conor McGregor. … He always cuts the line, and everyone knows that (happens) when Conor is on. He cuts the line. I think I deserve to choose, and I’m choosing Conor because of everything I’ve done to make some money for my family and for everything.”
With McGregor 1-3 in his past four bouts and not owning a win at 155 pounds since his 2016 knockout of Eddie Alvarez, Oliveira’s words are certain to not sit well with Makhachev, who is on a 10-fight winning streak.
Chandler on the other hand? The former Bellator champion gets where Oliveira is coming from.
“(Charles Oliveira) if I were you I’d wait for Conor in January too,” Chandler tweeted. “… I’ll keep the division warm while you’re chasing him.”
Oliveira, who’s won 11 fights in a row, essentially is the uncrowned UFC lightweight champion. He was stripped of the title prior to facing Gaethje after he missed the championship weight limit by half-a-pound under a cloud of controversy. UFC president Dana White has guaranteed Oliveira will be one half of the next fight for the vacant title, and it’s possible he’ll be allowed to call his shot.
Working in Oliveira’s favor, White hasn’t slammed the door shut on McGregor returning to a title shot despite his downturn. Working against Oliveira is the fact that White also has said he thinks McGregor vs. Chandler makes sense.
As for Chandler, he’d love to fight McGregor, too, but seems open to just about any top contender in the crowded UFC lightweight division.
