Featured Columnist IVSeptember 19, 2024
Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC through Getty Photographs
Michael Chandler made it clear Thursday that he is not pointing the finger at Conor McGregor over the truth that their struggle initially scheduled for UFC 303 in June.
Chatting with MMA Combating’s Damon Martin, Chandler stated the next when requested if he has any ailing will towards McGregor:
“No, not any greater than I had on the very starting. I do not blame him for something, I actually do not. … I did all this to myself. At any given time I may’ve jumped off the practice and stated, ‘UFC, let me struggle another person.’ At any given time I may’ve stated I’m carried out with this. At any given time I may’ve stated to not the obligations and simply modified course. I put myself on this place. It was a place I needed to be in, it was a call that I made.”
MMA Combating @MMAFighting
Michael Chandler is not holding any grudges in direction of Conor McGregor over struggle delays
UFC postponed Chandler vs. McGregor after McGregor suffered an harm in coaching, prompting Chandler to lastly look elsewhere and settle for a struggle in opposition to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on Nov. 16.
In early 2023, filming started for Season 31 of The Final Fighter that includes Chandler and McGregor as coaches. It’s customary for the coaches to ultimately struggle, so there was loads of hypothesis that they ultimately would.
McGregor has not competed contained in the Octagon since UFC 264 again in July 2021 when he misplaced to Dustin Poirier by physician stoppage after breaking his leg.
Chandler has additionally had an extended layoff, having not fought since UFC 281 in November 2022, however his absence has been as a result of watch for a struggle in opposition to McGregor somewhat than harm.
Final week, UFC President Dana White appeared on SNY Sports activities Shorts (h/t Championship Rounds) and stated McGregor would have his return struggle in early 2025:
Championship Rounds @ChampRDS
Dana White says Conor McGregor will return in EARLY 2025 👀
Reasonably than ready round any longer for McGregor, Chandler introduced just a few days later that he would tackle Oliveira in November as an alternative.
Oliveira and Chandler fought as soon as earlier than with Oliveira successful by second-round technical knockout in a bout for the vacant UFC light-weight title at UFC 262 in 2021.
Chandler entered that bout on a three-fight successful streak, however the loss to Oliveira began a downturn, as he has misplaced three of his previous 4 outings with the one win coming over Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in Might 2022.
After beating Chandler, Oliveira took down Poirier and Justin Gaethje, however he has now misplaced two of his previous three fights, falling to Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan.
A win for both Chandler or Oliveira at UFC 309 may go a great distance towards getting considered one of them again in rivalry for the UFC light-weight title.
As for McGregor, he’s now with out a clear opponent for his return struggle since it’s unlikely the 38-year-old Chandler will struggle once more in early 2025 after taking up Oliveira in November.
