UFC star Michael Chandler is currently concerned about his upcoming fight with Justin Gaethje. The fight seems to be remain in air as it is seemingly being planned to take place in New York. Chandler (22-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and Gaethje (22-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) have agreed to a highly anticipated lightweight clash at UFC 268 on Nov. 6.
It has not been officially announced yet but the promotion hopes to have the event at Madison Square Garden in New York, as has become tradition in early November.
Michale Chandler opens up on the fight with Justin Gaethje
The newly placed mandates in the state require proof of vaccination for indoor dining, fitness and entertainment events. A UFC event would fall into the latter category, and that could prove problematic for Chandler. Chandler,who is a former Bellator champion and UFC lightweight title challenger took to Instagram Live and said he’s currently not vaccinated.
He said that won’t change by the time UFC 268 is scheduled to take place, so he questions whether he’ll be able to fight – or if the UFC will put on the event in that location at all. Khabib Caught ‘Biting’ Training Opponent
Here is what he said:
“I just saw that New York is dropping some heavy mandates on the city of New York City. Basically, they’re requiring you to be vaccinated (and) show proof of vaccination for indoor dining, indoor fitness and indoor performances and entertainment. Obviously a UFC card, a UFC fight being thrown at Madison Square Garden is considered indoor entertainment and indoor performance. I will not be vaccinated at that point. I don’t know how many fighters, if I was to fight on that Nov. 6 card – or whoever is fighting on Nov. 6 at Madison Square Garden – I don’t know how many fighters will be vaccinated. I don’t really have a tally on who is or isn’t.”
“It’s not that I’m anti-vax. It’s not that I don’t believe in the vaccine, necessarily. I’m just not going to get the vaccine until it’s 100 percent FDA approved. We’ve had hundreds of clinical trials, just like we had the vaccines that my son has had – measles and chicken pox and all of the vaccines that have been around for 100 years that have been proven. We shall see. I don’t know what’s going to happen. More than anything, the chances of the UFC being able to sell out Madison Square Garden with only people that are vaccinated really cuts down their ability to sell out Madison Square Garden. So I don’t really know. I think it calls into question if Madison Square Garden will actually happen, to be honest with you guys. The UFC is brilliant and geniuses at putting things together and putting their fights together. But as I said, I’m not anti-vaccine. I think vaccines are effective. I think it’s everybody’s choice whether they want to take the vaccine. I won’t be vaccinated by Nov. 6, so I won’t be able to perform or entertain at Madison Square Garden. So we shall see.”
We will see what UFC eventually decides about the event.
