Michael Chandler shouldn’t be prepared to show the web page on a possible struggle with UFC star Conor McGregor regardless of all the pieces that’s transpired.
Chandler, a former Bellator light-weight champion, returned to the octagon final Saturday at UFC 309. There, he misplaced a unanimous resolution to Charles Oliveira after placing his profession on maintain for properly over a 12 months and ready for a struggle with McGregor to materialize.
Now again in motion, the 38-year-old needs to revisit the McGregor struggle for the summer time of 2025.
“I feel me and Conor Worldwide Battle Week is the subsequent struggle,” Chandler mentioned on Bussin’ with the Boys. “That’s what I’m throwing on the market. I feel June, July.”
Chandler (23-9 MMA, 2-4 UFC) coached The Final Fighter 31 in opposition to McGregor. The 2 have been imagined to struggle this previous July at UFC 303, however McGregor withdrew from the matchup on account of damage.
Chandler believes the Irishman will return to the cage, and he’s extraordinarily assured the struggle to make is in opposition to him.
“I’m not saying it’s an actual actuality, however I’m saying if he does, his highway comes straight by Nashville, Tennessee,” Chandler defined. “His highway again to the UFC, we now have to complete The Final Fighter. The UFC needs us to complete The Final Fighter, Conor needs to struggle me, and he can struggle anyone. He made a dedication.
“I’ve mentioned this quite a few instances: I’ve no downside giving my opponents props. I feel he’s extra sentimental and romantic in regards to the sport than individuals give him credit score for as a result of he’s change into this large, 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 want 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 feel he needs to see by to his dedication,” Chandler mentioned. “Fairly frankly, he wants to come back again. He wants one thing to chase, or else he’s going to chase the improper 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 look at me struggle.”
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