Michael Chandler Asks His Management to Turn the Heat on Conor McGregor to “Hop in the [USADA Testing] Pool”

As shooting for the upcoming TUF season goes on in full swing, talks about a fight between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler have also picked up pace as we head into March 2023. But the obvious topic that appears to be a major hurdle for the fight seems to be McGregor’s inclusion in the USADA testing pool. Since, as per the agency’s guidelines, fighters have to be a part of the pool for a minimum of six months before getting approved for a fight, fans and analysts have thrown doubts on the possibility of the bout taking place.

Now, Chandler himself has also expressed his opinion on the entire scenario. While speaking to the media at a backstage appearance at UFC 285, the American expressed his confidence ahead of the proposed bout. But while doing so, he also stated that ‘The Notorious’ had to eventually hop into the testing pool if the fight was meant to take place in September as planned.

Michael Chandler talks about getting Conor McGregor in the USADA testing pool as soon as possible

When asked about the fight taking place in September and the Irishman’s current exclusion from the pool, the 36-year-old confirmed that his team was working on a solution.

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 “I actually just asked my management today to just to start putting pressure and figure out. Right now we’re at March third or fourth, if we want to fight in September he’s got to hop in the pool, that’s just the simple fact of the matter.” explained Chandler.

Despite wanting the fight to take place in the proposed month, the 36-year-old clearly did not appear to care about the technical intricacies of USADA guidelines.

He stated: “I could care less man. I don’t care what he weighs what he’s doing and how long he’s in the USADA pool does not matter to me.”

It seems that the former Bellator champ is clearly not intimated by the Irishman’s superstardom. And this also serves as a show of Chandler’s confidence that saw him face top Lightweight contenders in the promotion in just a matter of a few years.

Chandler talks about possible weight classes for McGregor fight

Talking about confidence, the fifth-rank lightweight apparently does not care about which weight class the fight will take place. Although his bouts have all taken place at 155, Chandler revealed that he was ready for a fight at welterweight and, surprisingly, even a fight at 185.

He stated that it was McGregor who initially proposed the idea of fighting in middleweight, although it could also be just an effort from the Irishman to intimidate Chandler, “He’s talking about 185. We’ll see you know. He was talking about 185 and I called his bluff. I think he doesn’t think I’m as heavy and as dense as I actually am.”

Although ‘Iron’ clearly doesn’t mind fighting at any weight class, it was the timeline that he seemed to be concerned about. While expressing that he wanted the fight to take place ideally in September, he also claimed that it might end up as one of the biggest events in the history of the UFC.

“And as I’ve said, this show ends in August so it would make a lot of sense for us to fight in September. I hope it’s a September and  I think this fight is too big to do T-Mobile Arena. I think we sell out of Allegiant Stadium or Dallas Cowboy” stated Chandler.

Ultimately, it all goes down to McGregor and his decision to join the testing pool. How do you think this scenario will play out? Will we see the duo clash in September as Chandler wants? Let us know in the comment section below.

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