Former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor gave some surprising props to Michael Chandler a couple of days on from his defeat this past weekend.
Chandler made the walk for the first time in two years at Saturday's UFC 309 pay-per-view, bringing an end to his long wait to share the cage with McGregor by running it back with ex-lightweight kingpin Charles Oliveira instead.
"Iron" had previously come inches away from defeating "Do Bronx" and becoming a UFC titleholder in just his second Octagon outing. A miraculous comeback from the Brazilian on that occasion, however, spoiled Chandler's plans.
And in the co-main event at Madison Square Garden, Oliveira did so once again by establishing himself as the likely next in line for either Islam Makhachev or Arman Tsarukyan.
Oliveira's second victory over Chandler came in much more convincing fashion, with "Do Bronx" dominating the American en route to a lopsided unanimous decision. The former Bellator champ did have his moments late in the day, and they were seemingly enough to get some respect from "The Notorious."
After remaining silent on fight night, McGregor finally gave his reaction to Chandler's display in a now-deleted X post Monday night.
"Cut Michael Chandler! Just kidding, good fight," McGregor wrote. "Mad little fellow is Michael. I like em'!"
McGregor's comment was without a response to Chandler's post-fight callout. Despite his previously failed wait, "Iron" once again had the Dubliner's name on his lips as he pursues the lucrative showdown opposite his fellow TUF 31 coach in 2025.
For now, the Irishman has matters to attend to in the court room. He's currently embroiled in a civil action trial at Dublin's Irish High Court after being accused of sexual assault.
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