Michael Chandler has moved from a two-year long story that was supposed to bring about a fight with Conor McGregor. It is questionable whether the Irish superstar will compete again.
It appears that Chandler signed the coach almost lasted a lifetime. The ultimate fighter It’s been nine months since Season 31, the opposite of McGregor, and Lightweight became the headline for UFC 303 during International Combat Week in 2024. Chandler will eventually return to action this November in a five-round battle with Charles Oliveira, and will clash with Paddy Pimblett at the UFC 314 Co-Main event in April.
Meanwhile, McGregor hadn’t fought yet or planned for his next match. This has led to a lot of speculation that the original two division champions have already finally made its appearance in the UFC.
“In my heart, yes (he’s coming back),” Chandler said of McGregor as he spoke to MMA Fighting. “Because he wants to fight. He doesn’t want to finish his legacy of fighting in the way he did. His final battle was to break his legacy with Dustin Poirier, promote the biggest comeback in the history of combat sports, and then sign to fight me and pull out with another injury. That’s the heart of my heart.
“Now, my heart, if you’re a bettor, will Connor come back? No, I’ll give it a small chance.”
When McGregor last took action in the UFC, he suffered from a terrible broken leg in 2021 in a trilogy battle with Dustin Poirier. The road to recovery was supposed to lead to a fight with Chandler, but McGregor focuses on building BKFC, continuing his promotion and brand of beer.
With his 37th birthday approaching in July, McGregor is fighting his father’s time, but sitting on his financial fortunes allows him to never fight again if it is his choice.
“He’s so entangled with the shiny objects around him that he can’t help himself, but I don’t think he can get to the shiny objects,” Chandler said. “With all the respect, you might be in the same way. If you had those opportunities, I might be in the same way. So, unless I walked a mile through his shoes, have you not been entitled to criticize him, did I never become overly critical of a man?
“That’s how I’m with most of the people I fight and everyone in the industry. I don’t live the same life as these people. In my heart, I think he’ll eventually come back, but if I was a bettor, that’s a small chance. I’m not betting any money on that horse.”
Of course, McGregor’s comeback is less likely to turn weeks into months between the next fight update.
Looking back now, former Bellator Lightweight Champion refuses to suddenly say that waiting is a mistake, especially knowing that he knows the UFC’s commitment to bringing that fight. Once it was revealed that McGregor hadn’t returned in a timely manner, Chandler moved on.
“I still have no regrets about how Connor unfolded,” Chandler said. “I had all the security behind the scenes, yeah, the fight might be pushed back a little more, but I still signed the contract, The ultimate fighter – You still need to finish Ultimate Fighter 31. If Connor returns, he signed his name with the dotted line he will finish Ultimate Fighter 31.
“Will I wait for that? No, I’m moving ahead, fighting, chasing it. I’m going to keep going. You have to remind people from time to time, I’ve signed with the UFC, and within 28 months I’ve fought five times. Fight for the world title, fight fight, fight this year, another candidate for this year’s battle, I was very active. I’m the type guy I fought in the Bellator tournament and I’ve fought six times in 13 months. I’ve been very active throughout my entire career.”
When he returned, Chandler suffered a heartbreaking loss to Oliveira in the potential first contender match, but he didn’t let it consume for a very long time.
Instead, Chander picked up the piece, got healthy again, and waited for the UFC to make the call. As a result, Chandler was booked in a five-round battle with Pinblett in April.
“Obviously, I’m having that trouble a lot. People tease me about waiting for Connor and doing something like that,” Chandler said. “I signed a contract that I’d try to do The ultimate fighter And I’m going to fight Conor McGregor, so I wanted to wait and figure it out, so we booked the fight and obviously he pulled out. I think the fight will take place somewhere when he comes back, but I wanted to go back to the horses.
“As soon as I get healthy, as soon as I can train again, I said yes to this fight. Now, we’re back to the victory column and we’re going to put me in a good place for the rest of the eight months left this year, whether April is this summer, or whether this summer and fall will be fighting third round this year. It’s “What did you do for my business recently,” and this time we’re back to the victory column and do something spectacular on April 12th in Miami. ”
Don’t make any mistakes. Chandler is ready to compete again, but don’t expect him to hold his breath.
“I’ll bet money on the wrong horse for a while. Now I’m betting on myself and betting on myself,” Chandler said. “I had the opportunity with Charles Oliveira and it wasn’t enough. Now I’m off to myself again, fighting Paddy Pinblett in April and betting on to stay active this year.
“If (Connor) returns, his path to the UFC will go straight to Nashville, Tennessee and Michael Chandler.”