UFC on ESPN 24 - Rodriguez vs. Waterson --- UFC Fight Night 188 - Font vs. Garbrandt
UFC 262: Oliveira vs. Chandler is an upcoming mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that will take place on May 15, 2021 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, United States.
Fight card
Main card
Lightweight Charles Oliveira vs. Michael Chandler Vacant Lightweight Championship
Lightweight Tony Ferguson vs. Beneil Dariush
Women's Flyweight Katlyn Chookagian vs. Viviane Araújo
Featherweight Shane Burgos vs. Edson Barboza
Bantamweight Matt Schnell vs. Rogério Bontorin
Preliminary card (ESPN / ESPN+)
Middleweight Ronaldo Souza vs. André Muniz
Featherweight Lando Vannata vs. Mike Grundy
Middleweight Jordan Wright vs. Jamie Pickett
Women's Flyweight Andrea Lee vs. Antonina Shevchenko
Early preliminary card (UFC Fight Pass)
Women's Flyweight Gina Mazany vs. Priscila Cachoeira
Featherweight Kevin Aguilar vs. Tucker Lutz
Lightweight Christos Giagos vs. Sean Soriano
Background
A UFC Lightweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former three-time Bellator Lightweight World Champion Michael Chandler and Charles Oliveira is expected to headline this event. Former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement immediately after defending his title at UFC 254 in last October, citing his father's death from complications related to COVID-19 in July as the main reason behind it. Despite his announcement, the title was never officially vacated as UFC President Dana White said several times that he believed Nurmagomedov would still fight again. White finally conceded on March 19 as he confirmed Nurmagomedov's retirement.
A welterweight bout between Leon Edwards and former UFC Lightweight Championship challenger Nate Diaz (also The Ultimate Fighter 5 lightweight winner) was expected to take place at this event. It would've marked the first five-round non-title co-main event in UFC history. However, Diaz pulled out due to a minor injury in early May and the bout was postponed to UFC 263.
A flyweight bout between former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Alex Perez and Matt Schnell was scheduled for the event. However, Perez was forced to pull out due to undisclosed reasons. He was replaced by Rogério Bontorin and the bout will take place at bantamweight.
Joel Álvarez was scheduled to face Christos Giagos in a lightweight bout. However, Álvarez was removed from the bout in early May due to alleged visa issues that restricted his travel. Giagos is expected to face returning veteran Sean Soriano.
A middleweight bout between Jack Hermansson and Edmen Shahbazyan was expected to take place at this event. However, the bout was postponed to take place one week later at UFC Fight Night: Font vs. Garbrandt due to a COVID-19 case in Hermansson's camp.
May 13 - Updated fight card & background
