Former title contenders Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson look set to face off at UFC 274 in May – the same card headlined by the lightweight championship clash between champion Charles Oliveira and Justin Gaethje.
The news was first reported early on Thursday by Sports Illustrated, with multiple outlets then reporting that both Chandler and Ferguson had agreed to the bout. The UFC has yet to confirm the fight has been booked. UFC 274 takes place on May 7 at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
Chandler, whose professional MMA record reads 22-7, last competed at UFC 268 in November, in his Fight of the Year defeat to Gaethje at Madison Square Garden. The unanimous decision loss represented the American’s second successive defeat – at UFC 262 last May, he lost out to Oliveira for the vacant lightweight crown.
Chandler, the division’s No 5-ranked contender, is a former three-time Bellator champion. He debuted in the UFC in Abu Dhabi in January last year, where he knocked out Dan Hooker.
Ferguson, meanwhile, has lost his past three bouts having for a long time been in the title picture. The American (25-6) has suffered the string of defeats to Geathje, Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, meaning he has dropped now to the No 7th challenger in the lightweight rankings. Previous to the Gaethje reverse at UFC 249 in May 2020, Fergsuon had put together a 12-fight win streak.
The card at UFC 274 is topped by Oliveira’s second title defence, with Gaethje the division’s No 1-ranked contender. In his last outing, at UFc 269 in December, Oliveira secured a superb third-round submission victory against Dustin Poirier. He has won his past 10 UFC bouts.
Gaethje, a former interim champion, has contested the lightweight crown before, losing the undisputed encounter to then-champion Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 254 in Abu Dhabi.
Chinese Grand Prix schedule (in UAE time)
Friday: First practice - 6am; Second practice - 10am
Saturday: Final practice - 7am; Qualifying - 10am
Sunday: Chinese Grand Prix - 10.10am
No Shame
Lily Allen
(Parlophone)
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Eqtiraan, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Soft Whisper, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
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