Sources - Justin Gaethje-Michael Chandler added to UFC 268 - ESPN
- ️Sat Jul 31 2021
Brett OkamotoJul 30, 2021, 07:38 PM ET
- Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
The UFC is adding a lightweight matchup between Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler to its pay-per-view event in November, multiple sources told ESPN on Friday.
Contracts have not been signed, but both parties have agreed to the 155-pound contest. The promotion has not officially announced a date or location for UFC 268, but the target is Nov. 6 inside Madison Square Garden.
Gaethje (22-3) has not fought since a second-round submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a UFC championship fight in October. Nurmagomedov announced his retirement immediately after that fight, and Brazilian lightweight Charles Oliveira has since claimed the vacant title.
It was Chandler (22-6) who Oliveira beat to win the title. A former Bellator MMA champion, Chandler hurt Oliveira in the first round of their title fight in May before suffering a knockout loss in the opening minute of the second round. The defeat dropped Chandler's UFC record to 1-1.
The UFC has been interested in pairing Gaethje and Chandler against each other since Chandler signed with the organization in September. The two have extremely fan-friendly styles. Gaethje has won nine post-fight bonuses in just eight appearances in the UFC. Chandler has recorded finishes in 17 of his 22 professional wins.
A welterweight title fight between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington is set to headline the UFC 268 event.