Michael Chandler recently shared his belief that Conor McGregor’s deep passion for MMA will inevitably draw him back to the Octagon.
Chandler’s name has been linked to the former two-division UFC champion ever since the two were cast as rival coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last year. The plan was to eventually clash in a highly anticipated showdown in the season finale.
However, by the third quarter of 2024, "Iron" remained laser-focused on his training, passing up opportunities to compete against other fighters as he stayed committed to the long-promised bout with McGregor. Meanwhile, "The Notorious" was frequently seen enjoying his extravagant lifestyle, partying, and fully embracing his larger-than-life persona.
With the slippery McGregor fight fading from the horizon, Chandler seems to have set those aspirations aside for now. Instead, he’s gearing up for a high-stakes rematch against Charles Oliveira in a five-round co-main event at UFC 309, set for November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
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Chandler and Oliveira first squared off for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 262 in May 2021. In that bout, the Brazilian emerged victorious with a second-round TKO to claim UFC gold.
The upcoming rematch doesn’t suggest that 'Iron' has abandoned his lofty goal of fighting McGregor. On the contrary, the former Bellator lightweight champion remains hopeful that the potential matchup could still materialize sometime next year.
Chandler Says McGregor Is Too 'Romantic' About MMA to Stay Away
During a recent interview with MMAFightingonSBN, Chandler was asked if, after all the hurdles in booking his fight with McGregor, he still believes the Irishman will ever return to the UFC. The former lightweight title challenger acknowledged that while 'The Notorious' may currently be focused on ventures outside the UFC, he firmly believes McGregor's deep-rooted passion for MMA will inevitably pull him back. And when that moment comes, Chandler assured that he’ll be ready to face him.
You just look at his history. Conor McGregor is a nothing, a nobody, without the sport of mixed martial arts, without the UFC platform, without the legacy that he's created," Chandler said. "I believe he's romantic about it. I believe he loves the sport. I believe his spirit loves the sport, but sometimes his body and his brain want other things, right? And I've never walked a mile in that man's shoes, neither have you, so who are we to critique him? But I do believe he comes back, and when he does, I'll be waiting. I just might have the title by then, so it could be a very interesting set of circumstances.
"Iron" hasn’t fought for almost two years, following his third-round submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022. Many have speculated that Chandler squandered his prime years by remaining inactive, waiting for a fight with McGregor.
However, the 38-year-old American has no regrets about his time away from the cage. Instead, he believes the break was much-needed, allowing him to recharge and reset away from the relentless grind of competition.
When I step into the Octagon next time, it's going to be two years since I fought. But I already had a bout agreement, already had a contract signed, already broke the biggest gate record, and was lined up against Conor. We had a fight, but the fight got pulled, so you can't really have any regrets. All you can do is make the best decisions… I enjoyed myself; I needed some time away from the sport. When you're fighting the best and toughest guys in the world, constantly in training camps, constantly dealing with the pressure and the rigors of what I go through—because I take it so seriously—the sport can chew you up and gobble you up.
Chandler and McGregor were ultimately slated to headline UFC 303 this past June, but the fight was abruptly scrapped at the eleventh hour when McGregor pulled out just two weeks before the event due to a leg injury.
Since then, the UFC superstar has repeatedly vowed to make his return by the end of the year. However, UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that fans may have to wait longer, suggesting McGregor's comeback might not happen until 2025.