Michael Chandler has reacted to Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon on July 11 and also has a message for the Irishman. The former UFC double champ is going to return after five years to run it back with Max Holloway at UFC 329.
While Chandler had hoped that he would be McGregor’s opponent whenever the latter returns, the UFC is no longer interested in making this fight happen.
Chandler and McGregor served as opposing head coaches on TUF 31 in 2023, and in 2024, they were going to lock horns in the main event of UFC 303 until a toe injury forced “The Notorious” to pull out. Chandler spent enough time waiting for the bout to be rescheduled. However, when McGregor got caught up in his BKFC duties, presidential ambitions, and legal issues, “Iron” locked horns with Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 and suffered a unanimous decision loss.
Last year, Chandler fought Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 and was stopped in Round 3 by the Brit, who also battered Chandler’s face. The 40-year-old is currently on a three-fight losing skid and hopes to return to winning ways by knocking out Mauricio Ruffy on June 14 at the White House. During an interview with Mike Bohn, he said:
“I’m going to knock out Mauricio Ruffy on the White House lawn, and then we’ll see what happens after that.”
Michael Chandler reacts to Conor McGregor’s return, says he will be cageside to watch “The Notorious” at UFC 329
During the same interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Michael Chandler talked about the Conor McGregor bout that never materialized, adding that he is currently a million miles away from that fight and does not have emotions about it getting cancelled and not getting rebooked.
“It’s funny, man. Me vs. Conor, whether it was The Ultimate Fighter in the lead-up, then the actual training camp, then the pullout of the fight, and the possible rebooking. This whole thing has been an up-and-down soap opera for the better part of a couple of years. As big as it was, as entrenched as I was in it, I just feel like I’m a million miles away now. I don’t really have any emotions about it, and maybe it’s because, obviously, I’m focused on Mauricio Ruffy at the White House.”
However, “Iron” believes he and the Dubliner will lock horns down the line, whether it be under the UFC’s banner or any other promotions, since both camps want this bout to happen.
“Whether me and Conor fight in the UFC or not, Conor and I will compete against each other at some point, in some venue, somewhere, somehow, some way. The story is there, the animosity is there, but also the mutual respect is already there. It’s got all the makings of a blockbuster. So if it happens down the line, it happens down the line. But I wish him well and it’s good to hear obviously. I know they wanted that fight. I wanted the fight. Obviously the UFC had different plans, and the UFC has every right to make whatever fight they want to make. So, here we are.”
Chandler also wished Conor McGregor the best for the Max Holloway rematch:
“I wish Conor well. The sport is a better place when Conor McGregor is training and on his way back. Max got the nod. We’ll get to see them compete here. It’s only five weeks away. I’ll be there cageside watching, very interested in how that fight goes.”
Check out Michael Chandler’s comments about Conor McGregor below:
