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It appears as if Michael Chandler will not be stepping in on short notice to face former lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos this weekend.
Following Islam Makhachev’s scratch from the UFC Vegas 13 main event, dos Anjos called out Chandler to step in as his replacement on Sunday night. The UFC’s recent free agency signee, and former Bellator champion responded to fans’ inquiries on his Instagram page Monday morning and essentially nixed the possibility, stating “we have other plans.”
Dos Anjos also took to social media on Monday to seemingly respond to Chandler’s path towards his highly anticipated promotional debut.
If you don’t take a fight because you don’t have enough time to drop weight I get it but don’t tell me you have other plans.
I became the champion of the BIGGEST organization fighting everyone they put in front of me. Shame on you.
— Rafael dos Anjos (@RdosAnjosMMA) November 9, 2020
As of now, a replacement has yet to be named for dos Anjos, who was set to make his lightweight return for the first time since a unanimous decision loss to Tony Ferguson in November 2016. “RDA” won his first three bouts at 170-pounds—including victories over Neil Magny and Robbie Lawler—before dropping four out of his next five, which includes a loss to Colby Covington at UFC 225 for the interim welterweight title.
The Kings MMA fighter’s last victory came in May 2019 when he submitted Kevin Lee in the in the main event of UFC Rochester.