“I won’t be able to perform or entertain at Madison Square Garden,” Michael Chandler talks about his concerns about Justin Gaethje fight at UFC 268
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Michael Chandler
The former Bellator Lightweight champion and UFC Lightweight title contender, Michael Chandler verbally agreed to face the former interim Lightweight champion, Justin Gaethje in the co-main event of UFC 268, a few days back.
Although, the location of this fight card isn’t officially announced but it is expected to take place at the Madison Square Garden in New York. The looming issue that Chandler is facing now for fighting on this card against Gaethje is the COVID-19 vaccine mandates issued by the state for indoor fitness, dining, and entertainment events.
Michael Chandler isn’t vaccinated currently and he has clearly stated that his possibility of fighting on this card completely depends on the location of UFC 268. While talking on Instagram Live, Chandler says,
“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.” {H/T MMA Junkie}
Michael Chandler clarified he’s not an anti wax person, he’s only concerned about its side effects
The number 4th ranked UFC Lightweight fighter, Michael Chandler further clarified that he isn’t an anti wax person, he only wants to wait until it is 100% approved by the FDA. Chandler says, “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.”
Michael Chandler continued, “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.”
In the end he concluded, “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.” {H/T MMA Junkie}
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