With UFC Return in Shambles, Michael Chandler Has One Question After Conor McGregor’s Presidential Run Announcement

This week, former UFC dual champion Conor McGregor sent shockwaves through the MMA world and the political circles of Ireland when he took to social media and declared, “Ireland needs an active President employed wholly by the people of Ireland. It is me.” What had been dismissed as rumor since last year is now seemingly confirmed by McGregor himself, leaving fans puzzled. Many had been eagerly awaiting his return to the Octagon for a fight against Michael Chandler, who has been eyeing his ‘red panty night’ for months.

Chandler, who has been waiting for ‘The Notorious’ for over 18 months, has yet to comment on this latest development. However, he recently shared his reaction through social, addressing what might have prompted McGregor’s shift to politics.

Michael Chandler reacts to Conor McGregor’s political debut

The person who stands to lose the most if Conor McGregor does not return to the Octagon is Michael Chandler. Since the conclusion of TUF 31, Chandler has been constantly waiting for ‘Notorious’ to show up, even being labeled “Hachiko” dog by his critics. When he heard about McGregor’s decision to run for president, the ground seemed to slip from under him.

Struggling to control his frustration, Chandler recently questioned whether McGregor’s decision was driven by fear through an Instagram story where he took a dig at Dubliner in a cryptic way.  He stated, “Hey everyone, why do fighters think they’re tough? Big shots, big tough guys, but not one of you could scare the biggest star in the sport out of it and into politics.”

Chandler’s frustration is understandable; however, the news of Conor McGregor running for president is not entirely new. His frustration with the government started in December 2023, following an incident where an Irish citizen was attacked by an immigrant. McGregor took to social media to slam the Irish government, over riots and violence in various regions of Ireland, leading to an investigation into McGregor. At the time, Dubliner accused the government of stifling’s Ireland voice and using him as a scapegoat.

Even though Conor McGregor did not receive support from his UFC colleagues and opponents, he has already garnered approval from Tesla head Elon Musk for his potential future political stint. Additionally, kickboxer-turned-influencer Andrew Tate recently showed his support for McGregor and even vowed to vote for him, citing his Irish roots.

Andrew Tate supports McGregor for the 2025 presidential election

Both Andrew Tate and Conor McGregor emerged from the world of combat sports and gained prominence due to their controversial personas. They have supported each other over time, but their relationship became more highlighted when Tate and his younger brother, Tristan, were detained by Romanian authorities for alleged human trafficking. ‘Notorious’ came forward to support them and defend them against the odds.

Now, as McGregor prepares for his upcoming presidential election in Ireland in March 2025, how could Tate stay away from supporting his friend? He has once again shown his support. Recently, Tate vowed to vote for the Dubliner through his lineage, writing on X, “My grandfather is from Limerick. I have the Irish passport. I will vote for you. We must do something before it’s too late.”

As the McGregor-Chandler fight is rumored to be scheduled for January 2025 and the Irish presidential election is set for the last week of March, this creates a conflicting situation. It will be interesting to see how McGregor handles both circumstances or if his UFC return will be delayed once again. Stay tuned for further updates.