Report: Gaethje, Chandler agree to bout at UFC 268

Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler have verbally agreed to a lightweight bout at UFC 268, sources told ESPN's Brett Okamoto.

No official date for the card has been released, but the target is Nov. 6 at Madison Square Garden, per Okamoto.

The two lightweight competitors have been involved in a war of words recently. Gaethje called out Chandler for "slandering my name" and said his now-opponent has received favorable treatment from UFC president Dana White. Chandler previously accused Gaethje of ducking him.

Gaethje last appeared in the Octagon in October, suffering a submission loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov. Prior to that defeat, Gaethje, the former interim lightweight champion, had won his previous four contests.

Chandler also lost his last bout, as he was defeated by Charles Oliveira for the lightweight championship at UFC 262. Chandler holds a 1-1 record since joining the UFC in September.

The UFC 268 card is set to be headlined by a fight between Kamaru Usman and Colby Covington.