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The former UFC lightweight champ is desperately searching for a last minute replacement to face him at this week’s UFC Vegas 14 fight card. But, Michael Chandler isn’t interested.
This week’s UFC Vegas Fight Night offering was never booked to be the strongest card, but now it’s taken a serious hit to its curbside appeal. An event that was largely depending on the name value of its main event has been left scrambling to find a new one, after news that longtime Khabib Nurmagomedov training partner Islam Makhachev has been forced out of his headlining bout against Rafael Dos Anjos.
Even RDA is getting into the matchmaking spirit as the promotion desperately seeks to find a new foe for the former lightweight champion; a top tier fighter willing to step up on just a few days’ notice. To that end, the longtime Evolve MMA fighter called out former Bellator Champion Michael Chandler, to see if the recent UFC signee would be interested in gloving-up for a debut fight on November 14th.
I wish @MAKHACHEVMMA a speed recovery. Looking for a new partner to dance. Looks like @MikeChandlerMMA is ready to go. Your move!
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) November 9, 2020
If that was the bait, though, ‘Iron’ Mike doesn’t seem interested in taking it. Speaking to fans on Instagram, the Sanford MMA talent made it clear he has “other plans” (likely revolving around getting fights with either Tony Ferguson or Justin Gaethje). But, that’s not a response that seems to be getting much traction with the Brazilian, who still needs someone to fight come this Saturday.
If you don’t take a fight because you don’t have enough time to drop weight I get it but don’t tell me you have other plans.
I became the champion of the BIGGEST organization fighting everyone they put in front of me. Shame on you.
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) November 9, 2020
Dos Anjos is currently coming off a pair of losses in the welterweight division, to Michael Chiesa and Leon Edwards. The former lightweight king is just 4-5 since losing his belt to Eddie Alvarez back in 2016.
Currently UFC Vegas 14 still has 10 fights set to go down at the Apex Facility on November 14th, including the debut of former Invicta strawweight champion Kanako Murata—who faces Randa Markos on the evening’s prelims. It’s unclear if the UFC will find a new main event in the coming days, or simply move ahead with the card as booked.