Conor McGregor, Charles Oliveira trade shots after ex-champ backs Michael Chandler to win TUF fight

Former UFC lightweight champions Charles Oliveira and Conor McGregor switched places this week.

Oliveira, who had ridiculed the Irishman earlier this year by saying that McGregor was “chicken” about dating him in the past, said on Hour of MMA on Wednesday that McGregor could get a title shot by defeating Michael Chandler.

The thing is, he expects Infamous to lose.

“I don’t think he will win,” Oliveira said. “But [the title shot] could happen [with a win]. He’s a guy who sells a lot, he likes the UFC, he’s controversial and has a lot of power, so it could happen, but I don’t think he’s going to get over Chandler.”

McGregor and Chandler are currently filming the upcoming season Ultimate Fighter and are expected to meet in a fight yet to be announced later this year.

McGregor hasn’t fought since July 2021, when he fell to 1-3 in his last four UFC fights, with all losses due to a fight stoppage. Chandler has also won just one of his last four matches, a slump that includes stoppage losses to Oliveira and Dustin Poirier.

“I think Chandler is very explosive and has a good streak,” Oliveira said. “Conor is out for a while. Michael Chandler has a good punch, great wrestling and he’s very explosive, so I’m betting on Chandler. [to win]”.

On Wednesday, McGregor took to social media to reply to the Brazilian in tweets that have since been deleted.

A grinning Oliveira returned fire on McGregor Thursday from behind the pool, predicting that Chandler would “wipe” McGregor when they met.