Michael Chandler remains to be hopeful his combat with Conor McGregor occurs, particularly since he’s seen how UFC CEO Dana White can say issues to drum up curiosity that won’t really be wholly correct.
Following Tuesday’s Contender Sequence card, White spoke with reporters and stated that McGregor was able to get again within the octagon for the primary time in over three years, however stated that the previous two-division champion wouldn’t compete this yr.
Chandler says he’s prepared, and nonetheless hoping to combat McGregor, however will probably be prepared for different alternatives if that may’t occur.
“If we are able to combat in December, let’s do it,” Chandler informed TMZ. “The actual fact of the matter is I’ve stayed prepared since I left coaching camp for [UFC 303], and I’m staying able to take a combat — any combat — if this combat doesn’t seem like it’s taking place in December.”
The combat was initially scheduled to headline this yr’s Worldwide Struggle Week card in June, however McGregor was compelled to withdraw attributable to an harm. “The Infamous” hasn’t competed since struggling a ugly leg harm in his July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Chandler was additionally stopped by Poirier in his most up-to-date outing in November 2022 at UFC 281. “Iron” has an incredible relationship with White, and understands the UFC CEO’s position. Having been on either side of White’s promoter speak, whereas Chandler is able to transfer on to different issues, there’s part of him that believes that White could possibly be pulling a swerve.
“There’s no purpose why Conor can’t combat this yr,” Chandler stated. “Clearly, I can combat this yr. I feel it comes right down to scheduling. December makes loads of sense. November, you’ve bought MSG, it’s already type of booked up. Earlier than that, you’ve bought Abu Dhabi, so December is that huge pay-per-view card. , cap off the yr with an enormous pay-per-view, Chandler vs. McGregor. Makes loads of sense.
“Dana, as a lot as we love him, he has additionally stated some issues that had been simply completely false in press conferences and what not — which that’s his job. Typically it’s his job to provide the precise data, his job is, typically, to offer you misinformation. So typically, saying the combat isn’t taking place this yr would possibly imply that this combat is occurring this yr — identical to he did once I already knew I used to be preventing June 29.
“I feel it was across the Tremendous Bowl … he tells Pat McAfee that Conor and Chandler aren’t preventing till the top of the yr most likely. So you may learn between the traces, however so far as I do know, this combat has some very enormous prospects to combat by the top of the yr. Conor’s prepared, I’m prepared, let’s signal on the dotted line.”