With problems popping up till Conor McGregor‘s neck, it seemed like Michael Chandler changed his target for returning to the octagon in 2025 after publicly challenging Jorge Masvidal for a fight in Miami. “Where are you, Jorge?” asked Chandler on X. Even ‘Gamebred’ accepted the challenge and agreed to a fight in April. However, Chandler has now changed his mind again and sent a challenge to ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor for a fight. The kicker is that it seems that the former Bellator champion issued the challenge for a fight outside the UFC.

Taking to his X, ‘Iron’ challenged the Irishman by tweeting, “Ring, cage, mat, canvas, whatever you want to call it. All you have to do is step up @TheNotoriousMMA” This was a reply to McGregor’s original tweet where he wished for peace in the world and war in the ring. “I pray for peace in the world and war in the ring! “

It is worth noting that Chandler, who was idle for two years waiting for McGregor, is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of UFC 309. Seeing that he has lost 4 out of his last 5 fights, he craves a big-money match as he enters the twilight of his career.

So what better than calling out Conor McGregor for a boxing fight, who too, is looking to make a lot of money by boxing Logan Paul? Maybe that is why ‘Iron’ has even accepted to fight him outside the ring and is willing to face him on the mat, canvas, or ring as stated in the tweet. However, seeing the buzz that the possible fight between Logan Paul and Conor McGregor has created, it seems less likely that the Irishman would change opponents.

So, it looks like Chandler will now have to fight Jorge Masvidal, who originally retired in April 2023 and is on a four-fight losing streak. Even if the fight takes place, it won’t be one that fans would look forward to. Seeing that the UFC is a business after all, ‘Iron’ would have to find a way to keep himself relevant, or else he could face the axe like countless UFC fighters before him. A fate that is reminiscent of the path Tony Ferguson is walking on, as veteran referee and MMA commentator John McCarthy revealed.

John McCarthy drops brutal verdict on Michael Chandler

Michael Chandler, who debuted in the UFC in 2021 with a victory over Dan Hooker, quickly earned recognition from fans thanks to his aggressive style and warrior spirit. However, despite his efforts, Chandler has failed to capture the UFC lightweight belt, and his current record in the promotion reflects his struggles: 2 wins and 4 losses. ‘Iron’ continues to face difficulties in his career in the UFC, and after his last loss to Charles Oliveira (UFC 309), even veteran referee and MMA commentator John McCarthy did not hesitate to share his opinion.

In a recent speech, McCarthy said that Chandler is finished and compared him to Tony Ferguson, another renowned fighter who has seen his career plummet in recent years. He said, “Michael Chandler has hit Tony Ferguson status. Just being honest. Who’s he gonna beat? He looked slow at times. You want to talk about looking slow? You cannot look slow in the lightweight division… no, you’re gonna die. He got outwrestled by a jiu-jitsu guy.” McCarthy further added, “I think Mike’s in the same position. He’s trying. There’s not a doubt in my mind. He’s working his a** off. It’s just not happening like it used to happen for him. He can’t get to those places.”

After going undefeated for years and becoming one of the most respected figures in the lightweight division, Ferguson has experienced a series of losses that have left him with no clear direction. Since his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018, ‘El Cucuy’ has suffered 8 consecutive defeats, an absolute record in the promotion. So what do you think? Will Michael Chandler bounce back or suffer the same fate as Ferguson? Let us know in the comments.