“There’s Gonna Be a Fight”: Despite Uncertainty of Conor McGregor’s Return This Year, Michael Chandler Remains Positive of Their Fight Happening in 2023

At this point, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call Conor McGregor‘s return the biggest mystery in the MMA world. The former two-division champion has been absent from in-ring action since his loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In the said bout, the Irishman sustained a gruesome injury which left his fighting career on a cliffhanger. But over the past few months, McGregor has made a tremendous recovery. Something evident from his transformation pictures.

But despite this, the former featherweight’s return has been shrouded with doubts. Earlier this year, he went over a fiasco with USADA. This was due to the former champion’s absence from the testing pool. Effectively, putting a question mark over his return. Apart from this, many in the MMA community have shown their skepticism over his possible opponent in the much-awaited comeback. If experts are to be believed, that may not be Michael Chandler. However, despite what others are saying, ‘Iron Mike’ seems confident about securing the biggest fight of his career.

Michael Chandler is confident about Conor McGregor’s fight

In his recent appearance on the KFC radio podcast, Michael Chandler showed his confidence about getting the opportunity to fight with Conor McGregor. If the former Bellator lightweight champion is to be believed, he will face the Irishman in his comeback bout. He attributes this to UFC’s status as the biggest MMA organization. And if his words are taken, they are trying to make this proposed bout happen. Additionally, ‘Iron’ believes that ‘Mystic Mac’ would not like to be the first coach in TUF’s history to not fight following the show’s conclusion. In Chandler’s own words:

“There’s gonna be a fight. It’s still a little up in the air. Well, the fight back in USADA, yeah, I mean the timing of it is up in the air, but it’s locked in that you guys will fight. Yes, it’s more the timing, you know.”

This statement comes after a lot of people have shown doubts about the said bout. Including the likes of Henry Cejudo and Daniel Cormier. Attributing Chandler’s lack of credentials and the strap for their disbelief. Cormier even showed his support for the lightweight campaigning for the money fight in one of his recent videos.

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Regardless, if the fight materializes, it would be the biggest fight of Michael Chandler’s career. McGregor is the biggest draw in the sport and a fight with him is worth Millions. ‘Iron Mike’ knows it and he is campaigning hard for it. His UFC record stands currently at 2-3 and he is out of the title picture. Considering this, a money fight with Conor McGregor makes much more sense at this point in his career.

Conor McGregor is not the first coach to not fight at the show’s conclusion

Conor McGregor wouldn’t be the first coach to not fight at the show’s conclusion. ‘Iron Mike’ recently featured as a rival coach alongside ‘Notorious’ in the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter. In the show’s tradition, the two coaches were expected to lock horns following the show’s conclusion. But to date, nothing has been made official yet. In his recent interview, Chandler said that Conor McGregor would not like the title of being the first coach in TUF’s history to not fight following the show’s finale.

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However, this claim isn’t true as ‘Mystic Mac’ wouldn’t be the first coach to not fight following the show’s finale. On the contrary, this has happened several times before, including McGregor’s last appearance as a coach on the show. This also includes the like of Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, Shane Carwin, and Roy Nelson.