**MMA Star Michael Chandler Maps Out Ambitious 2025 Fight Schedule**
After a two-year wait, Michael Chandler has shifted his focus from a highly anticipated bout with Conor McGregor to a November 16 showdown with Charles Oliveira. Despite the change in plans, Chandler remains confident that a fight with McGregor will take place in 2025.
“I’ve made a strategic pivot to face Charles Oliveira and secure a shot at the UFC lightweight title,” Chandler explained. “I’m convinced that a fight with McGregor will happen next year, and I’ll be ready to take on the challenge.”
Chandler, 38, has been out of action since his submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. During his time off, he coached alongside McGregor on The Ultimate Fighter reality series and was briefly linked to a fight with the former two-division champion. However, when McGregor suffered a toe injury and withdrew from their scheduled June bout, Chandler opted to seek out another opponent.
“I stayed in close contact with the UFC during the McGregor situation, and when it became clear that our timelines wouldn’t align, I asked to face Charles Oliveira instead,” Chandler revealed. “I knew Oliveira would be ready to fight before the end of 2024, and I wanted to stay active.”
The upcoming bout with Oliveira is expected to be a career-high payday for Chandler, who plans to fight three times in 2025 after a two-year hiatus. In addition to McGregor and a lightweight title fight, Chandler has set his sights on a showdown with current BMF champion Max Holloway.
“I’d love to face Holloway in 2025,” Chandler said. “Our names were previously mentioned for a potential fight, but our schedules didn’t match up. I think that fight will happen next year, and it’ll be a massive event.”
With a stacked 2025 schedule on the horizon, Chandler is poised to make a significant impact in the MMA world. Will he be able to deliver on his ambitious plans and take on the biggest names in the sport? Only time will tell.
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