UFC lightweight contender Michael Chandler knows that he has no one to blame for his two-year layoff except himself, yet he keeps his head up in the twilight of his career, taking full accountability. ‘Iron’ waiting out for two-years in hopes of landing a ‘red panty night’ with a potential fight with Conor McGregor, somehow landed him on the receiving end of ridicule or jokes from fans. Despite the ridicule and set backs, Michael Chandler moves forward with a quiet, yet unrelenting resolve.

Shifting his focus to the future, Chandler is preparing for Madison Square Garden at UFC 309, where he will face former champion Charles Oliveira in a rematch, aiming to secure the next title shot with a win. Although he has a chance of avenging his loss against Charles Oliveira on November 16th, the frustration of the unfulfilled McGregor fight still weighs on him .

Why is Michael Chandler carrying the weight of regret, however? The reason, according to ‘Iron’ is in fact, earlier this year Dana White’s team made him aware of the uncertainty of his potential fight with McGregor. Despite this, Chandler chose to wait on the sidelines even though the glimmer of that fight ever happening lost its shine as the days went by.

What was Dana White’s team’s warning to Michael Chandler?

Despite preparing for the biggest fight of his career in his fourth appearance at Madison Square Garden, Michael Chandler remains fixated on the prospect of facing Conor McGregor. Speaking candidly, Chandler shared his emotions, still haunted by the unrealized opportunity for the McGregor fight. He takes full responsibility for his hiatus but acknowledges that the situation could have been avoided had he listened to UFC’s CBO, Hunter Campbell, who had already warned of the consequences of waiting for the McGregor fight.

Reflecting on the circumstances, Chandler recalls, “I could have, at any given time, the first moment that Hunter called me, said we were tough, that it was going to be called in July or August, whatever it was going to be. The first moment he called me and said, ‘Hey, we are going to push it to this, it’s not happening,’ I could have said, ‘No.”

This year marks three years since Conor McGregor’s last octagon appearance, when he suffered a broken leg during his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. McGregor still has two fights remaining on his UFC contract, with Michael Chandler originally seen as the ideal opponent to help McGregor end his hiatus. However, their highly anticipated showdown at UFC 303 was derailed by McGregor’s pinky toe injury. Despite this setback, McGregor is still expected to return to the octagon soon.

Conor McGregor Opens Up About His Return to the Octagon

It’s been years, and fans might have started to forget what it was like to see Conor McGregor fighting in the octagon. His hiatus has stretched on without an end in sight, leaving fans to write off the Irishman’s return to the Octagon. However, in an interview with DAZN Boxing, he confirmed that 2025 will be the year he steps back into the UFC to fulfill the remaining fights on his contract. He also expressed hope that his long-awaited fight against Michael Chandler will be one of those bouts.

“It will be 2025,” McGregor said. “My job is just to go to the gym, be in the gym, stay in shape, and be sure that whenever it is, wherever it is, I will be ready.” When asked about his plans after his UFC career, McGregor expressed uncertainty. “I don’t even know,” he explained. “I am the highest-generating fighter on planet Earth right now in today’s space. What happens after this, as a free agent, I am not sure.”

What’s your take on Michael Chandler’s decision to wait for the McGregor fight? Was he justified in waiting for ‘The Notorious’, or did he waste valuable time pursuing a ‘red panty night‘ instead of seizing other opportunities? Share your thoughts below.