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Charles Oliveira Open To Conor McGregor Fight Should He Beat Michael Chandler On One Condition

The fate of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler is more uncertain than ever, but Charles Oliveira says he’s open to fighting McGregor as long as a certain stipulation is met. After even more time has passed without a set date for McGregor vs. Chandler, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed just prior to Noche UFC (UFC […]

Continue Reading Charles Oliveira Open To Conor McGregor Fight Should He Beat Michael Chandler On One Condition at MMA News.

The fate of Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler is more uncertain than ever, but Charles Oliveira says he’s open to fighting McGregor as long as a certain stipulation is met.

After even more time has passed without a set date for McGregor vs. Chandler, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed just prior to Noche UFC (UFC 3060 last weekend that Chandler has opted to take a fight with Oliveira.

The clash between “Do Bronx” and “Iron” will serve as a five-round co-main event for UFC 309, which takes place on Nov. 16 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. It will be a rematch from their lightweight title bout at UFC 262 and Chandler’s first fight since losing to Dustin Poirier at the same venue two years earlier.

There has been some supposed reassurance that Chandler’s planned fight with McGregor, which has been long awaited since the two were announced as the coaches for The Ultimate Fighter season 31 in early 2023, can still happen following the Oliveira bout. But given the Brazilian’s status as as former lightweight champion who is still high up in the UFC’s lightweight rankings, it brings about questions as to how Oliveira vs. Chandler 2’s outcome could impact plans for both the UFC lightweight title and McGregor.

In an interview with MMA Fighting, Oliveira said he does not blame Chandler for waiting as long as he did. However, he himself would not have had the same patience.

That said, Oliveira was also asked about choosing between another crack at the lightweight gold and McGregor.

Charles Oliveira Says He’d Fight Conor McGregor As Long As He’d Get Title Shot In Next Fight: ‘Why Not?’

Ultimately, Oliveira said if he was forced to pick between the two, he would lean toward the title fight. But, the ex-titleholder said he would be down to fight McGregor if it guaranteed him a title fight in the next outing.

“Am I next in line if I beat McGregor? If that’s the plan, then I’m 100 percent in. But if you say, ‘No, you have to choose one of the two,’ I’m definitely going for the title,” Oliveira said. “If I have the opportunity to fight Conor and we make a lot of money, because he sells a lot and so do I — and we would definitely brow the roofs off with this pay-per-view —, not to mention the money off the purse, and I’m still next for the belt, I would definitely do it. Why not?

“(My managers Diego Lima and Jorge Patino) know what my plan is. I want the fights that take me to the belt. I’ve been posting a lot these days, ‘Waiting for the boss to call,’ and the UFC definitely sees that. Diego and ‘Macaco’ came with the Chandler fight, and I’m definitely much closer to the title with a win over Chandler. I’ll just stay focused now. Chandler is super tough and deserves all the respect. He knows how much I respect and care for him, so it’s definitely going to be a great fight.”

Oliveira will be looking to rebound from a split decision loss to Arman Tsarukyan in a title eliminator at UFC 300. “Do Bronx” defeated Chandler for the then-vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 and defended the title against Poirier at UFC 269. He controversially lost the title on the scale before UFC 274 and then lost a vacant title fight with current champ Islam Makhachev at UFC 280.

The UFC lightweight title is next expected to be defended in early 2025 in a fight between Makhachev and Tsarukyan.

Chandler is 2-3 in the UFC, with victories over Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson in addition to his losses opposite Poirier, Oliveira, and Gaethje.

McGregor, meanwhile, has not fought since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout with Poirier at UFC 264.

Read More: Michael Chandler Explains Why He Won’t Call Failed Wait For Conor McGregor ‘Wasted Time’

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Dan Hooker Lays Down Beer-Related Stipulation To Fight Conor McGregor As Michael Chandler Matchup ‘Stopped Making Sense’

Michael Chandler finally moving past the Conor McGregor fight to take on Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 is bound to shake up the UFC lightweight division. Ahead of the return of the former title challenger, Dan Hooker has also emerged as a new contender with three straight wins. Hooker has returned to the top five […]

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Lays Down Beer-Related Stipulation To Fight Conor McGregor As Michael Chandler Matchup ‘Stopped Making Sense’ at MMA News.

Hooker has returned to the top five lightweight rankings and claims to be more serious than ever about earning a title shot. He wouldn’t risk going into fights injured or without proper training. “The Hangman” is open to money fights with the likes of McGregor as well.

Here’s why Hooker thinks it makes more sense for McGregor to fight him than Chandler but the Dubliner must fulfill a unique condition…

Dan Hooker Expects Him And Conor McGregor To Drink Beers Every Day During Their Fight Camps

Hooker opened up on the current state of the UFC lightweight division in an interview on the Submission Radio YouTube channel recently. He explained that after a nearly two-year-long layoff, the Chandler matchup wasn’t intriguing enough for McGregor.

Beating Chandler wouldn’t have helped the Irishman claim a title shot or even enter the top five UFC lightweight rankings. So, Hooker suggests that fighting a top ranked and active lightweight like himself is a more sensible option for “The Notorious” at this point.

“He’s without a fight. I know Conor’s hungry to fight, um, and fight someone that he can get something from and make a lot of sense. That’s why I feel like Chandler kind of sitting there and waiting, he, and not staying active, you kind of lose. Like what does he get out of Chandler. He doesn’t even get in the… he knocks out Michael Chandler in the first round, Conor McGregor doesn’t even get in the top five off of that performance. So, therefore, like, it doesn’t. It stopped making sense for Conor McGregor to fight Michael Chandler.”

Hooker also admitted he’d be more than happy to fight McGregor. He remembered that there’s no bad blood between the two and stylistically, their bout would be quite entertaining for fans of striking and violence.

“The Hangman” joked (or maybe not) about the stipulation he’ll lay down for fighting McGregor. Both fighters must prove that they’ve been drinking beers every day of fight camp or they show failed breathalyzer tests daily.

“That’s a stipulation of the fight, we have to send each other drinking beers every single day of fight camp. We have to, we have to both agree to both agree. We maybe, we can get a breathalyzer, we can send each other a failed breathalyzer test every day of fight camp and we’ll get this thing squared away.”

READ MORE: UFC Veteran Expects ‘Great Champion’ Sean O’Malley To Get Immediate Title Rematch Like Israel Adesanya After Controversial Loss

Continue Reading Dan Hooker Lays Down Beer-Related Stipulation To Fight Conor McGregor As Michael Chandler Matchup ‘Stopped Making Sense’ at MMA News.

Chael Sonnen Dismisses ‘Foolish’ Hope of Conor McGregor UFC Comeback

If you’re still holding out hope to see Conor McGregor back inside the Octagon, Chael Sonnen has some bad…

If you’re still holding out hope to see Conor McGregor back inside the Octagon, Chael Sonnen has some bad news for you.

It’s been more than three years since we last saw the Irish megastar strap on a pair of four-ounce gloves for his disastrous trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In the time since, rumors regarding his quote-unquote “greatest comeback in combat sports history” have continuously dominated headlines.

Still, it feels as though we are no closer to seeing the former two-division titleholder back inside the Octagon than we were the day after his devastating leg break in July 2021.

A sad fact when you consider that McGregor was scheduled to headline UFC 303 on June 29 against Michael Chandler before bowing out due to a broken pinky toe weeks ahead of fight night.

McGregor’s purported opponent for his long-awaited return, Michael Chandler, appears to have finally run out of patience as he is now scheduled to square off with former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on Saturday, November 16.

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With Chandler moving on, three-time title challenger Chael Sonnen thinks that’ll pretty much put the nail in the coffin when it comes to ever seeing ‘Mac’ inside the eight-sided cage again.

“I don’t know what to make of Conor. We’re looking foolish at this point by continuing to act as though he’s going to come back,” Sonnen said of McGregor during a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy. “The truth is, the night he went down broken in two against Dustin Poirier, it was unlikely he was going to return. When he got other opportunities. Selling the whiskey brand, and finding himself in movies with Jake Gyllenhaal, it was unlikely that Conor was going to return…

“He got a stubbed pinky toe, that may or may not be broken and may or may not belong to him. When he walked away from a press conference in his hometown. And didn’t show up to [UFC 303], it was unlikely. Even baseball tells you three strikes, you’re out. At some point, we all have to accept this and move on” (h/t BJPenn.com).

Chandler Still Confident that Conor McGregor Returns

While Michael Chandler is putting the McGregor fight behind him for the time being, the former Bellator titleholder still believes that the Irishman isn’t done fighting just yet.

“I do think [he returns],” Chandler told MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin. “Maybe I’ve just been so close to it and so focused on it that you just look at his history, Conor McGregor is a nothing, nobody without the sport of mixed martial arts. Without the UFC platform. Without the legacy that he has created.

“I believe he’s romantic about it. I believe that he loves the sport. I believe that his spirit loves the sport but sometimes his body and his brain want other things. I’ve never walked a mile in that man’s shoes, neither have you, so who are we to critique him? But I do believe he comes back and when he does, I’ll be waiting. I just might have the title by then.”

Dana White clueless on return opponent for Conor McGregor: ‘He’s in New York and he’s training’

Amid the booking of a rematch clash between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler for later this year, Conor McGregor’s…

Amid the booking of a rematch clash between Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler for later this year, Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon is up in even more smoke according to UFC boss, Dana White, who claimed an opponent for the Dubliner would not be selected until his return was loctite.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight champion and featherweight gold holder, has been out of action since he headlined UFC 264 over three years ago in a trilogy rubber match against former interim champion, Dustin Poirier.

Fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss, Conor McGregor was scheduled to headline UFC 303 back in June in a welterweight matchup against the above-mentioned Chandler, until a fractured toe ruled the striker from a hiatus-snapping return on just week’s notice.

And in the time since, the Missouri native has now given up on a grudge fight with Conor McGregor — albeit for the time being, booking a five round rematch fight with former undisputed titleholder, Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.

Dana White provides update on Conor McGregor’s return

Appearing overnight in Dublin at a press event, UFC boss, White provided an update on the future of McGregor once more — claiming that while the ex-two-weight champion is currently training, a potential return opponent has yet to be selected.

“It’s going to [be] determined when Conor (McGregor) comes back, who the opponent is,” Dana White told assembled media. “Whenever Conor is ready and he comes back. He hit me up last night when he heard that I was here. He’s in New York right now, and he is training.”

Without a win since 2020, McGregor’s most recent outing came in the form of a first round high-kick and strikes TKO win over former title challenger and Hall of Fame inductee, Donald Cerrone in his most recent venture to the welterweight limit.

Ben Askren rips ‘Addict’ Conor McGregor amid UFC layoff: ‘This guy is clearly out partying’

Ben Askren is the latest in the long list of fighters and critics of speculating that former two-weight UFC…

Ben Askren is the latest in the long list of fighters and critics of speculating that former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor is dealing with an obvious substance abuse addiction, claiming it should be clear to see the Dubliner is too busy “partying” to return to the Octagon.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight titleholder and featherweight champion, has yet to make good since fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Dustin Poirier three years ago in the main event of UFC 264.

Coach backs Conor McGregor for win over Michael Chandler: 'He's an absolute sharpshooter'

And ruled from a scheduled return back in June at UFC 303 during International Fight Week, McGregor fractured a toe on the same leg as his aforementioned injury setback, and withdrew from a welterweight clash with Michael Chandler.

With the Missouri native moving on from the failed pairing over the course of last weekend and booking his own return in a five round rematch with ex-champion, Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, McGregor has been left opponent-less as he prepares for a return.

Conor McGregor slams 'Greedy and corrupted' officials over expensive bike shed

Ben Askren claims Conor McGregor is battling an addiction

However, according to one-time welterweight contender and former ONE Championship and Bellator MMA titleholder, Askren, veteran counter striker, Conor McGregor is dealing with addiction issues away from combat sports.

“It’s pretty obvious to me that Conor McGregor is an addict,” Ben Askren said on his podcast. “And he is rich enough that it doesn’t really have a negative impact on his life. Everyone kind of lets him do what he wants to do, but this guy clearly is out partying, can’t show up for training camp. And then because he can’t show up for training camp, he can’t get ready to fight.”

“There’s videos of him partying constantly,” Askren explained. “And listen, if you’re rich and famous and you’re not murdering anyone or anything worse where you’re going to go to jail, I guess, fine, whatever. Go live your life.”

Video – Conor McGregor stings sparring partner in new boxing footage ahead of UFC comeback

Despite missing out on a return fight with arch-rival, Michael Chandler for the time being at least — it…

Despite missing out on a return fight with arch-rival, Michael Chandler for the time being at least — it appears UFC star, Conor McGregor is ramping up his training preparation ahead of an eventual Octagon return, in the form of some heavy boxing sparring.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight titleholder under the banner of the organization, missed out on a fight with Chandler — albeit for the time being earlier this week, with the Missouri veteran giving up on a failed pairing to book his own year-end return.

Sidelined since a submission loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier two years ago, former Bellator MMA lightweight kingpin, Chandler has booked a five round rematch with former lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309 in November, returning to Madison Square Garden.

Conor McGregor stuns training partner during boxing sparring session

And as for McGregor, the Dubliner has most recently called for an “exemption” from the UFC in order to compete in the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship) amid his continued layoff from combat sports.

However, this week, the 36-year-old counter striker showed off some new training footage — with fans clamoring for his return to any form of competition, stinging and stunning a sparring partner during a boxing session inside the squared circle.

Sharing his thoughts on Chandler’s decision to book a rematch with Oliveira rather than continue to way to fight him in his return to action, McGregor claimed he was doing his best to get the wheels in motion again on a return to competition as soon as possible.

Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler — Image via: Getty

I’ve got two fights left on my UFC contract,” Conor McGregor told assembled media after BKFC 66. “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.”

Like I said, I’ve got two fights left on the contract and it’s taking a minute,” Conor McGregor explained. “But patience is one of the most important skills a human being can posses, study, learn, and implement, and that’s where I’m at right now.”