Despite spending much of his UFC prime waiting for a lucrative ‘red panty night’ against UFC star Conor McGregor, the #6-ranked lightweight Michael Chandler harbors no ill will toward McGregor, despite initially calling him “the most unreliable guy.” Although Chandler tasting disappointment on being waylaid, he is now preparing to face Charles Oliveira at the annual Madison Square Garden event on November 16th. This upcoming fight will be his third appearance at MSG, where he’ll have a chance at revenge against ‘do Bronx’, and possible a shot at the title.

Still, Chandler’s hope for a future fight with McGregor remains alive, as he recently stated in a social media video, “He and I have some unfinished business.” This sparked speculation in the MMA community on if McGregor will ever return and whether Chandler regrets holding out for that fight. ‘Iron’ recently addressed these concerns in a recent interview, ahead of his UFC 309 fight.

Michael Chandler Comes Clean on Waiting for Conor McGregor

Michael Chandler was originally set to face Conor McGregor after nearly 15 months of delays at UFC 303 earlier this summer at T-Mobile Arena in Nevada. The bout was supposed to represent the final face off between the coaches of TUF 31 which finished airing in August 2023. However, the highly anticipated UFC 303 bout fell through when McGregor broke his pinky toe, casting shadows on the fight’s certainty. More so, it left Michael Chandler on the bleachers for close to two years. Despite this setback, Chandler doesn’t seem concerned. He now focuses on his own accountability rather than relying on McGregor or the UFC.

In a recent interview with Kevin Iole, Chandler said, “If Conor never comes back, it was a season of my life. It was a decision I made. I hold no ill will towards him or the UFC – how it all worked out. Man, accountability is a superpower, and my superpower is how accountable I am to my actions and my own decisions. A man must stand firmly and confidently in the decisions that he makes, even if it’s the wrong decision.”

Michael Chandler’s upcoming fight against Charles Oliveira is a highly anticipated rematch. The two previously clashed for the vacant lightweight title in the main event of UFC 262, where ‘do Bronx’ finished ‘Iron’ via a brutal second-round TKO. Despite coming up short in their first encounter, Chandler is determined to emerge victorious this time and hopes to secure a title shot against Islam Makhachev. However, Chandler is 38 years old – considered past the average retirement age for fighters. How will Michael Chandler shape his future as an ageing fighter in the UFC?

Michael Chandler’s 12-Month Octagon Plan

Former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler – quickly approaching 40 and entering the twilight of his career – has limited time left to attain his goals in the Octagon. Chandler is now determined to make the next 12 months his most challenging and successful run yet, after spending nearly two years on the sidelines waiting for Conor McGregor. His primary goal is to settle his score with Charles Oliveira at UFC’s annual Madison Square Garden on November 16th.

Looking further ahead, Chandler has his sights set on taking on the winner of the rumored UFC 311 lightweight title bout between reigning champion Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. A win over Oliveira could bring Chandler one step closer to securing a title shot in the highly competitive lightweight division. In addition to the possible title fight with Islam Makhachev , ‘Iron’ has his sights set on other lightweights, mentioning possible fights with top contenders like Max Holloway.

Chandler noted, “You must also remember that Islam is probably fighting in late January. He’s going into Ramadan in February and all of March, so he won’t be able to start training until April and won’t fight until June or July. I’m not trying to wait that long. Conor could sneak in there. We could see Chandler vs. Oliveira, Chandler vs. McGregor, Chandler vs. Makhachev, and Chandler vs. Holloway.”

Do you think a missed fight with Conor McGregor could significantly impact Chandler’s career? Imagine waiting for that big payday and not getting the chance, only for retirement to loom its way over the horizon. Feel free to share your thoughts.