Fans gathered at UFC Noche, eager for an explosive showdown in the featherweight battle between Jean Silva and Diego Lopes. In an electrifying matchup in the lightweight division, Texas natives Alexander Hernandez and Diego Ferreira took center stage at the Frost Bank Center, delivering a performance that had fans on the edge of their seats. Right from the start, ‘El Gran Chango’ seized the momentum, putting Ferreira under constant pressure.

In an electrifying showdown, Alexander Hernandez took down Diego Ferreira with a powerful hammer fist, clinching a stunning knockout victory that left fans on the edge of their seats. Hernandez’s impressive victory has now pushed his win streak to four fights, making it the second-longest in the lightweight division. Meanwhile, this match marked Ferreira’s second straight loss, adding to the drama of the competition. After this setback, Ferreira now stands at 2-5 in his last seven appearances in the Octagon. Meanwhile, Hernandez, who has already taken on tough competitors like Chase Hooper and Austin Hubbard, keeps making a mark in his third fight of the year.

Immediately after the bout, the unranked Hernandez wasted no time calling out No. 12 contender and veteran Michael Chandler, who is in the twilight of his career with a 1-5 record over his last six fights. The Texas crowd erupted in approval, backing the bold challenge and sending a clear message: the lightweight division is heating up. Fans can now expect a potential showdown in November at Dana White & Co.’s annual Madison Square Garden event, where Chandler remains a perennial fan favorite.

Michael Chandler last stepped into the Octagon on April 12, 2025, at UFC 314, facing Paddy Pimblett. The fight ended in a brutal third-round TKO, marking Chandler’s third consecutive UFC defeat and leaving fans wondering if the veteran could turn things around. Before the skid, Chandler’s last victory came back on May 7, 2022, at UFC 274, when he stopped Tony Ferguson with a second-round knockout.

Between that win and the Pimblett fight, Chandler spent nearly two years preparing for a potential showdown with Conor McGregor—but the bout never came to life. Now, with UFC planning the White House for the “Americas 250”, anniversary next year, the chatter is heating up again. The MMA world is buzzing over the possibility of Chandler finally settling his “unfinished business” with McGregor.

Michael Chandler hints at next move amid career crossroads

The UFC lightweight division has seen major turnover in recent years, with fresh contenders rising while longtime names slide further from title contention. Still, veterans like Michael Chandler continue to hold their place as recognizable fixtures at 155 pounds. Chandler last stepped inside the Octagon in April, where he suffered a third-round stoppage loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314. The setback earned him a 60-day medical suspension, a precautionary measure given the nature of the defeat.

Now 39, Chandler isn’t rushing into a comeback—but he already has one date circled on the calendar: the UFC’s historic White House card set for July 4 of next year. During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Chandler outlined his ambitions: “That’s the one I want, but every single person on the entire UFC roster wants that fight,” Chandler said. “I realize that I, as well as everyone on the roster, are gunning for that card, wanting to be on that card…You got Conor [McGregor] entering the testing pool right after that gets announced, so that’s the one everybody wants. That’s the pinnacle. Is that gonna be my next fight? I don’t know, but I’m definitely wanting to be on that card. I’ve spoken to the UFC about it.”

At this point, the White House card remains a mystery while Dana White and the matchmakers work through the details. As the action unfolds, fans are in for an explosive show—and Chandler is ready to dive right into the thick of it.