“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I dreamed of ending his career and making sure he could never come back,” the American said at a press conference in Sydney. “Michael Chandler will be the second guy I’ve beaten and he’s picked as an opponent and I think that speaks for itself. He’s not going to fight me, that’s absolutely clear.”
Having knocked out Dustin Puryear in a challenger’s match, Gaethje is now the top contender to fight the winner of the title clash between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira, and ‘Highlight’ believes he will have to share the octagon with the Russian fighter in a fight for the championship belt.
“I prefer a rematch with Oliveira, but I think Makhachev will win, and I’ll be happy with the new challenge, for sure”
As a reminder, a title fight between Islam Makhachev and Charles Oliveira will headline UFC 294 on October 21 in Abu Dhabi, while Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler could headline UFC 296 in Las Vegas on December 16.