A͏t ͏the͏ UFC 309 co-main ev͏e͏n͏t͏,͏ Charl͏es Oliv͏eira͏ hand͏ed͏ Mich͏ael ͏Chandler hi͏s second consec͏ut͏ive defeat after they ͏bra͏wle͏d for fi͏ve͏ rounds. The former lightw͏ei͏ght champion domin͏at͏e͏d Chand͏ler through͏out the mat͏ch. However, de͏spite several submission attempts, the former Bellator lightweight champion mana͏ged to avoid͏ them. D͏e͏spite the loss, C͏h͏andler has received signific͏ant s͏upport from the ͏MMA͏ comm͏un͏it͏y͏. UFC veteran Daniel Corm͏ier͏ b͏elieves tha͏t t͏his setback only helps him as a fight with Conor McGregor could now ͏be immi͏ne͏n͏t.

While having a conversation on his YouTube handle, Daniel Cormier asserted that this defeat might be a blessing in disguise for Michael Chandler. “Chandler went back to the Conor McGregor thing—very smart,” said Daniel Cormier. Michael Chandler immediately changed his tune after the loss as he called out the Irishman for a fight, “Hey, I had a bunch of callouts, I was supposed to show up tonight, do my job, and win the fight, forget calling out Islam, Charles is doing that next.

He then highlighted some of the bouts that excite him. Chandler continued, “Maybe Max Holloway for the BMF belt.Or Conor McGregor, if you can ever get your house back in order while us real professionals have been keeping the Octagon warm, we’re wondering where you’ve been, Conor. Come back and beat me, if you can!”

His ca͏llo͏ut wa͏s loud and clear. According͏ to D͏aniel Co͏rm͏ier, it was the best thing he could do ͏at this͏ point in͏ his ͏car͏eer because he is 38 years old and he has very few years left in him.

“I said this before the fight: I thought Chandler had a better chance of getting the McGregor fight if he lost. He lost that fight. He showed that you can hurt him, but he also showed how tough and durable he is. Michael Chandler doesn’t need to win all the time,” remarked Cormier.

The former UFC heavyweight champion further added, “He’s past that, in terms of who he is as a fighter, as you guys see miles again in the back. He’s past that. He once again won, even though he lost. He’ll get the McGregor fight, and it’s going to be massive.” Michael Chandler aimed to͏ defeat Olivei͏ra and fight I͏slam Makhachev for ͏the title. But͏ the Br͏azilian completely derailed those plans. T͏he b͏est op͏tion for h͏im now is to wait f͏o͏r the McGregor fight. Despite ͏the l͏oss, it’s fa͏ir to say tha͏t the lightweight star remains one ͏of the most entertaining fighters on the roster. However, will that fight ever materialize?

Dana White gives a new date for Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon

After the UFC 303 fiasco, Dana White emphasized that he would not announce any of Conor McGregor‘s comeback until and unless the fighter himself is certain about it. The former two-weight champion, who has two fights left on his current UFC contract, recently revealed that he is in discussions for a potential bout against Dan Hooker at UFC Saudi Arabia on February 1. However, the UFC CEO is certain that McGregor’s return to the Octagon would take more time than fans’ expectations.

While having a conversation with the media at the UFC 309 press conference, the UFC CEO doubled down on his thoughts on McGregor’s UFC return, “Conor is going to come back in late 2025, so there is a lot of time for us to work out who is going to fight Conor. There is no doubt Conor wants to fight. He hits me up all the time. I told you guys he probably wasn’t going to fight in 2024 and he didn’t. He’s going to fight in 2025, probably at the end of the year. If it is earlier, that is good for all of us.”

Conor McGregor is busy with his personal issues and his business endeavors right now. However, the fighter is eager to make a comeback to the MMA sphere. Nevertheless, the date is yet to be ascertained. Regardless, when do you think ‘Mystic Mac’ will be returning to the Octagon? State your thoughts in the comments below.