November 20, 2024 10:00 pm ET
Michael Chandler will not be prepared to show the web page on a possible battle with UFC star Conor McGregor regardless of the whole lot that’s transpired.
Chandler, a former Bellator light-weight champion, returned to the octagon final Saturday at UFC 309. There, he misplaced a unanimous choice to Charles Oliveira after placing his profession on maintain for properly over a 12 months and ready for a battle with McGregor to materialize.
Now again in motion, the 38-year-old desires to revisit the McGregor battle for the summer season of 2025.
“I believe me and Conor Worldwide Battle Week is the subsequent battle,” Chandler mentioned on Bussin’ with the Boys. “That’s what I’m throwing on the market. I believe June, July.”
Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) coached The Final Fighter 31 towards McGregor. The 2 have been purported to battle this previous July at UFC 303, however McGregor withdrew from the matchup because of harm. Chandler believes the Irishman will return to the cage, and he’s extraordinarily assured the battle to make is towards him.
“I’m not saying it’s an actual actuality, however I’m saying if he does, his street comes straight by Nashville, Tennessee,” Chandler defined. “His street again to the UFC, now we have to complete The Final Fighter. The UFC desires us to complete The Final Fighter, Conor desires to battle me, and he can battle anyone. He made a dedication.
“I’ve mentioned this quite a few occasions: I’ve no drawback giving my opponents props. I believe he’s extra sentimental and romantic concerning the sport than folks give him credit score for as a result of he’s grow to be this massive, notorious model. However he is aware of he’s nothing with out the UFC octagon. He is aware of he’s nothing with out the UFC. He was a plumber on welfare, sleeping on a sofa. With out the UFC, he’s nothing. I don’t say that to take that away from him. We’d like our employers and types to take us to the subsequent degree to create our lives.”
On high of pondering he makes probably the most sense for McGregor, Chandler additionally believes McGregor misses the octagon, and doesn’t purchase that he’ll make his hiatus from the game everlasting.
“I believe he desires to see by to his dedication,” Chandler mentioned. “Fairly frankly, he wants to return again. He wants one thing to chase, or else he’s going to chase the fallacious issues. And if he does, it simply so occurs that there’s a man ready, and I’m one of many high attracts within the UFC. Individuals pays good cash to observe me battle.”
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