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Charles Oliveira reveals offer to serve as backup fighter to Conor McGregor – Michael Chandler at UFC 303

Former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has confirmed he has floated the offer to serve as the backup fighter…

Former undisputed lightweight champion, Charles Oliveira has confirmed he has floated the offer to serve as the backup fighter to June’s headlining bout at UFC 303, between ex-two-weight champion, Conor McGregor, and prior foe, Michael Chandler.

Oliveira, the current number two ranked lightweight contender and a former undisputed champion in the division, most recently featured on the main card of UFC 300 last month.

Charles Oliveira weighs up welterweight leap after UFC 300 loss why not move up and do a big fight — Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam – USA TODAY Sports

Suffering a close, controversial split decision defeat, Oliveira found himself on the wrong side of two of three judge’s scorecards in a judging loss to the surging Armenian force, Arman Tsarukyan in an officially billed title-eliminator.

Charles Oliveira plans to serve as backup fighter at UFC 303

And welcoming a chance to fight as soon as July or even August in a projected summer comeback to the Octagon, Oliveira also revealed he would entertain a “big fight” at the welterweight limit – a first during his storied tenure in the organization.

Alex Pereira defends Charles Oliveira after UFC 300 loss Nobody knows what he's going through — Mandatory Credit: Cooper Neil

Receiving a call out today from Polish contender, Matesuz Gamrot – which has already been rebuffed, Oliveira informed Full Send MMA this evening that he has offered to serve as the backup fighter to the UFC 303 main event fight during International Fight Week between McGregor and Chandler.

“Charles Oliveira says he has offered to be the backup for Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler but if he ends up facing Conor McGregor he definitely wants to negotiate for more money,” Full Send MMA posted on their official Instagram account.

Calling for a fight with McGregor following his loss to Tsarukyan last month, Sao Paulo finishing ace, Oliveira turned in a stunning second round KO win over the above-mentioned, Chandler back in 2021 to win the vacant lightweight championship.

Charles Oliveira out of UFC 288 fight with Beneil Dariush due to injury

Oliveira would go on to defeat both former interim champions, Dustin Poirier, and Justin Gaethje in championship fights.

Would you like to see Charles Oliveira serve as the backup to UFC 303’s headliner?

Colby Covington uninterested in fighting ‘Nobody’ Ian Garry at UFC 303: ‘He has to show me how he’s serious’

Colby Covington has shut down talks of fighting Ian Machado Garry next time out. Covington and Garry have recently…

Colby Covington has shut down talks of fighting Ian Machado Garry next time out.

Covington and Garry have recently taken shots at one another, as both called for the fight to happen. However, nothing has come to fruition, but ‘Chaos’ says he wants to return at UFC 303 on June 29 at International Fight Week.

“I think that’s when they’re planning for me, International Fight Week,” Colby Covington told TwinsPod (h/t MMA Mania). “Just trying to figure out who who’s gonna be the guy. I got unfinished business with my last fight Leon Edwards, the guy that has the title right now. I broke my foot in the first five seconds of that fight. I threw a kick, it broke in three different places. So, that wasn’t me that night. I’m gonna probably have to fight someone else to get back to him. So, whoever.”

With Colby Covington expecting to fight at UFC 303, many assumed Garry would be his opponent. However, the former interim welterweight champ isn’t interested in that fight, as he says Garry is a nobody.

Ian Garry branded championship level fighter ahead of UFC 298 with the right matchups — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“There’s this kid that’s been calling me out,” Covington said. “This kid, Ian Garry, he’s a nobody. I gave him some stipulations and said, ‘Hey man, if you wanna fight me, you have to show me you’re serious about business.’ Because when I do business, I’m serious about it. I show up to every fight. I’ve never pulled out of one fight. I’ve been injured. I’ve been sick. But I always show up and do my business because I love the UFC as the greatest organization on world. So, he has to show me he’s serious.

Ian Garry withdraws from UFC 296 amid battle with the flu fight with Vicente Luque cancelled — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“He was supposed to be on my last event in the press conference. He pulls out the day of the press conference because he knew I was gonna be on stage, and we’re gonna have some beef. So, that shows me that he’s not serious,” Covington added.

Colby Covington broke foot in title fight loss

Colby Covington is coming off a lackluster decision loss to Leon Edwards in December for the welterweight title, but he says he broke his foot just seconds into the fight.

Joe Rogan critiques Colby Covington after UFC 296 he talked so much he didn't look good — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Covington was fighting for the undisputed welterweight title for the third time as ‘Chaos’ is now 0-3 in title fights, as he lost to Edwards and Kamaru Usman, twice.

However, Covington is still ranked fourth at welterweight, so if he can string together a couple of wins in a row, he could get another crack at the belt.

Colby Covington confirms plan to fight at UFC 303, cites ‘Unfinished business’ with Leon Edwards: ‘I broke my foot’

Former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington has confirmed plans to make a return to the Octagon this summer –…

Former interim welterweight champion, Colby Covington has confirmed plans to make a return to the Octagon this summer – namely at June’s end-of-month UFC 303 event, claiming himself and undisputed titleholder, Leon Edwards still retain “unfinished business”.

Covington, the current number four ranked welterweight contender, has been sidelined since he took main event honors at UFC 296 back in December, suffering a one-sided unanimous decision loss to the above-mentioned Edwards in the pair’s heated championship showcase.

Colby Covington confirms US Congress run I'm the Donald Trump of the UFC — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Showing off x-ray images of a fractured foot – apparently suffered with the very first kick he threw in the first round of his fight with the Birmingham native, Covington has yet to feature since dropping the defeat – his third in as many undisputed championship fights.

And finding himself heavily linked with a grudge pairing against unbeaten Dublin striker, Ian Garry in the co-main event of UFC 303 in June, Covington has so-far remained silent on recent call outs from the Portmarnock native.

However, according to the Clovis native, talks are underway with the promotion for him to fight at UFC 303 during International Fight Week, with former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor set to headline the card in his long-anticipated return.

Colby Covington confirms plan to fight at UFC 303

And while remaining non-commital on an opponent for his return, Covington – who is never far from controversy amid his outspoken nature, claimed he and arch-rival, Edwards still retained “unfinished business” amid their December pairing.

UFC 296 Leon Edwards vs. Colby Covington start time live streams full fight card — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

“I’m gonna fight this summer for sure,” Colby Covington told the Hodge Twins. “Somebody is gonna get fought. They’re trying to figure out the biggest name and the best business we can do for the UFC, so – International Fight Week is their big event in the summer.”

“…You know, I got unfinished business with my last fight,” Colby Covington explained. “Leon Edwards, the guy who has the title right now, you know, I broke my foot in the first five seconds of the fight with a kick – it broke in three different places. That wasn’t me that night. So, whoever I have to go through – I’m gonna have to probably fight someone else to get back to him.”

And whilst Covington remains interested in a rematch against Edwards, the Birmingham native has been tied to a potential re-run with the surging Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester in a welterweight championship return.

Do you think Colby Covington can work his way back to a Leon Edwards rematch?

Michael Chandler ‘plotting’ with Machine Gun Kelly ahead of his UFC 303 fight with Conor McGregor

Michael Chandler is doing some “plotting” with Machine Gun Kelly ahead of his highly anticipated clash with Conor McGregor….

Michael Chandler is doing some “plotting” with Machine Gun Kelly ahead of his highly anticipated clash with Conor McGregor.

On Saturday, June 29, the Irish megastar will return to the Octagon for the first time in nearly three years when he headlines UFC 303 inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. With their scrap just a few weeks away, ‘Iron’ appears to be playing some mind games with McGregor after posting a picture with Grammy Award-nominated artist Machine Gun Kelly.

McGregor and MGK, whose real name is Colson Baker, nearly threw hands during a brief interaction at the MTV Music Awards in 2021. To this day, nobody knows what caused the near-scuffle, but rumors immediately began flying that the animosity was the result of McGregor allegedly sending a direct message to Kelly’s girlfriend, actress Megan Fox.

However, representatives for McGregor have denied that narrative.

Recently, Chandler posted a picture with Kelly in what felt like a pretty clear dig at McGregor.

Michael Chandler and MGK taunting Conor McGregor

“63 days…. Plotting with ?@machinegunkelly,” Chandler wrote on X.

After Kelly opted not to comment on his interaction with McGregor, the Irishman told Entertainment Tonight”

“Absolutely nothing happened. I don’t know. He showed up, and I don’t know. I don’t know the guy. Nothing happened with me, I only fight real fighters, people that actually fight, you know what I mean? I certainly don’t fight little vanilla boy rappers. I don’t even know the guy. I don’t know anything about him, except that he’s with Megan Fox.”

McGregor reignited his rivalry with MGK after the incident, commenting on a video of Kelly riding a skateboard on social media. “Watch out guys we got a badass over here,” McGregor wrote in a since-deleted post.

Conor McGregor isn’t the only UFC fighter Machine Gun Kelly has had a bad experience with

It’s certainly not the first time that Machine Gun Kelly has had a run-in with a former MMA world champion. While attending a Power Slap event during Super Bowl weekend, Sean Strickland took issue with Kelly’s attire, telling him to “dress like a f*cking man” and likening him to a vampire.

“I don’t know who the f*ck that guy is,” Strickland tells the cameraman before yelling, “I’m easy to find, vampire man.”

Strickland offered some additional insight into the incident on his YouTube channel.

“I met some good people. Cowboy [Cerrone] was there. I met a vampire, apparently [the] guy dating Megan Fox,” Strickland said of meeting MGK. “You had some Transformers with a broken down car. I don’t know what happened to Megan Fox, but something happened to Megan Fox.

“I don’t know who did it, but I wanna find that man. I wanna have a conversation with him ’cause me and you, dude, we’re not cool. I meet this vampire-like, ‘Dude, you wake up every day and you dress like a vampire.’ I don’t know if he does or doesn’t. Maybe just a wardrobe. But dude, you dress like a vampire man. You look like the goth kid on South Park. And you go out in the world like this, like this only happens because you are in an insulated bubble” (h/t LoudWire).

Michael Chandler ‘plotting’ with Machine Gun Kelly ahead of his UFC 303 fight with Conor McGregor

Michael Chandler is doing some “plotting” with Machine Gun Kelly ahead of his highly anticipated clash with Conor McGregor….

Michael Chandler is doing some “plotting” with Machine Gun Kelly ahead of his highly anticipated clash with Conor McGregor.

However, representatives for McGregor have denied that narrative.

Recently, Chandler posted a picture with Kelly in what felt like a pretty clear dig at McGregor.

“63 days…. Plotting with ?@machinegunkelly,” Chandler wrote on X.

After Kelly opted not to comment on his interaction with McGregor, the Irishman told Entertainment Tonight”

“Absolutely nothing happened. I don’t know. He showed up, and I don’t know. I don’t know the guy. Nothing happened with me, I only fight real fighters, people that actually fight, you know what I mean? I certainly don’t fight little vanilla boy rappers. I don’t even know the guy. I don’t know anything about him, except that he’s with Megan Fox.”

Conor McGregor isn’t the only UFC fighter Machine Gun Kelly has had a bad experience with

“I don’t know who the f*ck that guy is,” Strickland tells the cameraman before yelling, “I’m easy to find, vampire man.”

Strickland offered some additional insight into the incident on his YouTube channel.

“I met some good people. Cowboy [Cerrone] was there. I met a vampire, apparently [the] guy dating Megan Fox,” Strickland said of meeting MGK. “You had some Transformers with a broken down car. I don’t know what happened to Megan Fox, but something happened to Megan Fox.

“I don’t know who did it, but I wanna find that man. I wanna have a conversation with him ’cause me and you, dude, we’re not cool. I meet this vampire-like, ‘Dude, you wake up every day and you dress like a vampire.’ I don’t know if he does or doesn’t. Maybe just a wardrobe. But dude, you dress like a vampire man. You look like the goth kid on South Park. And you go out in the world like this, like this only happens because you are in an insulated bubble” (h/t LoudWire).

Michael Chandler praises Conor McGregor on BKFC deal: ‘With that being said, I KO him within 10 minutes’

Set to make his anticipated return to the Octagon this summer at UFC 303 in a grudge fight with…

Set to make his anticipated return to the Octagon this summer at UFC 303 in a grudge fight with Conor McGregor, and whilst heaping praise on the Dubliner for striking an ownership deal with the BKFC (Bare Knuckle Fighting Championsihp) – claims he will knock out the veteran in their June clash.

Chandler, a former undisputed Bellator MMA lightweight champion thrice, competed for UFC lightweight spoils back in 2021, dropping a second round knockout loss of his own in a vacant championship affair with Charles Oliveira.

Michael Chandler claims Conor McGregor has small hands like a baby — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

And sidelined since the following year’s submission loss to Dustin Poirier, Chandler is officially set to land his clamored-for fight with ex-two-division champion, McGregor later this year, with the pair meeting at the welterweight limit at UFC 303 during International Fight Week later this summer.

Michael Chandler predicts KO win over Conor McGregor

Reacting to news of McGregor’s part ownership of BKFC with his company, McGregor Sports and Entertainment, Michael Chandler praised the Dubliner for changing the landscape of combat sports – before offering a reality check in the form of a prediction of a knockout win in June.

“Conor out here making moves… hate it or love it, the dude is making stuff happen,” Michael Chandler posted on his official X account. “With that being said, I KO him within 10 minutes on June 29 at #UFC303 @TheNotoriousMMA”

Conor out here making moves….hate it or love it, the dude is making stuff happen. With that being said, I KO him within 10 min on June 29 at #UFC303 @TheNotoriousMMA

— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) April 28, 2024

And while Chandler has made his prediction for their UFC 303 clash, McGregor’s head coach, John Kavanagh claimed he sees the pairing play out similarly to his product’s 2015 interim featherweight title win over Chad Mendes, questioning if Chandler would see a second round.

“I see similarities to the (Chad) Mendes fight,” Kavanagh explained. “I’d be surprised if it can go two rounds. I’d be surprised. He just hits too hard. He’s too sharp. Is there gonna be scrappiness and take down stuff? Maybe. But, every round starts on the feet, and his ability to get back there is underestimated. So, I’d be surprised if we see two rounds.”

Who wins at UFC 303: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?