UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler remains confident of being the promotion's first choice when it comes to Conor McGregor's comeback fight in 2025.
Chandler was announced as the former two-division champion's return opponent and opposition coach on The Ultimate Fighter toward the start of 2023. But while they completed the reality series, their matchup is still yet to reach the cage.
And the chances of it doing so took a hit following the cancellation of their UFC 303 main event this past June and Chandler's subsequent decision to accept a co-headline slot against Charles Oliveira at next month's UFC 309 pay-per-view.
Despite that, both Dana White and "Iron" have suggested the McGregor clash remains on the table. And the former Bellator champion insist he remains first choice, even in spite of the Irishman naming Dan Hooker as his opponent instead.
During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Chandler was asked for his reaction to McGregor's latest remarks regarding his return to MMA competition in 2025.
The #6-ranked contender, who started his UFC journey with a victory over Hooker, dismissed McGregor's comments while at BKFC Spain this past weekend as being serious.
And in any case, Chandler doesn't foresee the promotion being on board with "The Hangman" welcoming the Dubliner back to action over him.
Conor's a very 'flavor of the week' kind of guy. He just had a conversation with Dan Hooker. Everybody knows Dan Hooker's an awesome dude. You can sit there and have a beer with him, a Forged Irish Stout, in the middle of a squared ring and be like, 'Hey, man. I like you, you like me, we can make some magic, let's fight each other!' I looked no further than that, honestly.
I don't think the UFC's going to be very keen on McGregor vs. Hooker compared to McGregor vs. Chandler, since we need to make this fight happen," Chandler continued. "I'm not really worried about it. It's been up in the air for the better part of two years. So I'm not going to spend any time or energy or effort worrying about it.
Before potentially putting his sights back on McGregor, Chandler will need to have his full energy on the opportunity to avenge the defeat he fell to in his sole UFC title fight to date back in 2022.
And should he accomplish that feat against Oliveira inside Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17, perhaps a second shot at reaching the lightweight mountaintop will await him next year.
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