A new chapter in UFC lightweight history began on Thursday, when Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement was officially recognized by Dana White and the lightweight title was vacant.
It only took a few minutes for a new championship fight to be scheduled. Charles Oliveira (30-8 MMA, 18-8 UFC) will finally have his golden chance in the UFC when he meets Michael Chandler (22-5 MMA, 1-0 UFC) in a duel for Nurmagomedov’s recently abandoned bracelet at UFC 262 in May 15
The moment of change in the landscape naturally had a great boost in the MMA community. For more information, check out Twitter’s top reactions to top news about the UFC’s 155 pound division.
Intelligent! Very clever!
Bossman is using the old strategy “Hey, sure, we can just be friends …”.
Not without its own risks, we have to choose the right moment or Khabib will be all “Honestly, no, I’m flattered, but I see you more as a brother.”
But don’t count Dana yet! https://t.co/48UzK87AEO
– Ant Evans (@AntEvansMMA) March 19, 2021
The UFC lightweight division is officially open.
Oliveira-Chandler for the vacant title
Poirier-McGregor 3
Ferguson-Dariush
In addition to Gaethje, Dos Anjos, Makhachev …
– Nick Baldwin (@NickBaldwinMMA) March 19, 2021
Congratulations on making the first @BellatorMMA V @UFC super fight in the history of the sport! I hope it is the first of many!
– Cryptography accepted @ CrisCyborg.Com / store (@criscyborg) March 19, 2021
Khabib Nurmagomedov retires as the best pound for pound fighter in the world.
He’s the only fighter in MMA history to do that. pic.twitter.com/XuLqGCj54M
– History of MMA today (@MMAHistoryToday) March 19, 2021
Happy for both. Whoever wins is an incredible story. Either Michael Chandler becomes king of the UFC lightweight in two fights after a career has heard that he was not so good – or Charles Oliveira’s “less traveled” journey reigns supreme. I’m addicted. # UFC262 https://t.co/fW4HpT7Fhu
– Nolan King (@mma_kings) March 19, 2021
My guess is that a Poirier didn’t care and he knows it will happen. With no chance that he was scorned, he would definitely be part of the conversation.
This bottom-up game is about time # UFC262
– Damien Brown (@ beatdown155) March 19, 2021
I was of the opinion that Oliveira should have capitalized on Nate Diaz by calling him because I figured he would be the one left out, but I was wrong. Good for him! https://t.co/9LPw5UAbtW
– Simon Samano (@SJSamano) March 19, 2021