As soon as Michael Chandler realized that he wouldn’t be preventing Conor McGregor earlier than the top of 2024, he needed to transfer on together with his profession.
He’s now slated to face Charles Oliveira in a five-round rematch because the co-main occasion for UFC 309 in November however he knew the second that struggle received introduced, he would begin listening to about how he wasted the previous two years of his profession. Truly, Chandler heard that loads of instances from his fellow fighters lengthy earlier than Oliveira struggle received introduced as a result of so lots of them already criticized him publicly for sitting and ready for McGregor to lastly return.
Regardless of how loud the noise received from different UFC athletes, Chandler is aware of definitely that almost each single one among them wished to be in his place.
“It’s actually humorous,” Chandler instructed MMA Preventing. “You’ve had a thousand fighters sit right here throughout from you and speak to you doing interviews and all of them who’ve stated that I used to be Conor’s little whipping boy or I used to be ready too lengthy or I used to be losing my profession, each single one among them would have held onto this Conor struggle even when they are saying publicly that they wouldn’t. Each single a type of guys needs this struggle.”
Whereas he’s glad with the alternatives he made, Chandler nonetheless believes he’ll ultimately get to welcome McGregor again to the octagon after his final look got here all the way in which again in 2021.
The struggle could not occur as initially scheduled however Chandler is assured that McGregor is ultimately going to compete once more — he simply can’t say when that may occur.
“I do assume [he returns],” Chandler stated. “Perhaps I’ve simply been so near it and so centered on it that you just simply have a look at his historical past, Conor McGregor is a nothing, no person with out the game of blended martial arts. With out the UFC platform. With out the legacy that he has created.
“I consider he’s romantic about it. I consider that he loves the game. I consider that his spirit loves the game however typically his physique and his mind need different issues. I’ve by no means walked a mile in that man’s sneakers, neither have you ever, so who’re we to critique him? However I do consider he comes again and when he does, I’ll be ready. I simply might need the title by then.”
There’s a threat and reward with any struggle however Chandler getting the rematch towards Oliveira may probably vault him again into title rivalry with a win or a loss may price him the prospect to settle the rating with McGregor when he does return.
Chandler understands that’s the truth of his scenario however he’s assured that his decisions will ultimately repay.
“I nonetheless stand agency within the notion that Conor McGregor is coming again,” Chandler stated. “When he does, his highway goes via Nashville, Tenn. and Michael Chandler and we end The Final Fighter. However it’s not going to be my subsequent struggle. I’m Conor’s subsequent struggle however he isn’t my subsequent struggle.”
The absolute best reward for Chandler after this complete ordeal is that beating Oliveira at UFC 309 provides him much more choices for the long run.
Perhaps meaning welcoming McGregor again to the octagon in early 2025 or maybe he waits for an eventual showdown with UFC light-weight champion Islam Makhachev as an alternative.
Chandler has no downside betting on himself to win in November after which wanting in direction of a really busy 12 months forward in 2025.
“When he will get his home so as, I’ll be ready for him,” Chandler stated about McGregor. “If not, I’ve received no downside beating Charles and going to struggle for the title as a result of if I had that alternative right now, I’m going to struggle Islam after I beat Charles.”
