Forward of his return at UFC 314, Michael Chandler claims he’s now uncertain if arch-rival, Conor McGregor ever makes good on his return to the Octagon to land a battle towards him — revealing he’s not keen to “bet” on an eventual comeback for the Dubliner.
Chandler, who has moved on a failed pairing with former duel-weight champion, McGregor again in June at UFC 303 throughout Worldwide Struggle Week, has since returned in a rematch towards Charles Oliveira final November.
And co-headlining the cardboard, Missouri veteran Chandler suffered his second profession loss to the previous champion, over the course of 5 rounds in a unanimous choice defeat towards the Sao Paulo fan-favorite.
Returning to motion in one other 5 spherical co-main occasion at UFC 314 in April, Chandler will welcomed surging Liverpool grappler, Paddy Pimblett to motion in Miami, in a pairing which he claims will show an excessive amount of for the ex-Cage Warriors star.
“Obviously in his UFC debut, he (Paddy Pimblett) got dropped,” Micahel Chandler instructed ESPN. “(He) had some adversity there, was capable of come again. I believe the Jared Gordon battle, he misplaced that battle. I do assume he was fading within the Tony Ferguson battle, and now he’s locked into the cage for 25 minutes towards some of the ferocious guys within the light-weight division. I can battle 50 minutes, not to mention 25 minutes.
Michael Chandler now unsure on Conor McGregor showdown
Nonetheless, talking with Ariel Helwani for Uncrowned tonight, Chandler claimed he was not keen to hold his hat on a pairing with McGregor in his return to motion — or if he ever makes good on a comeback to fight sports activities.
My coronary heart of coronary heart says Conor’s (McGregor) obtained to return again to his old flame,” Michael Chandler instructed. “Each single factor that he has could be tied again, not directly or one other, to the UFC, the chance that they gave him. Does he need his legacy to be… My final battle, I broke my leg and I touted the best comeback in fight sports activities historical past. I fooled all people for a few years after which signed on the dotted line to battle Michael Chandler after which pulled out of the battle, by no means to return once more.
“My heart of heart says Conor’s got to come back to his first love… Every single thing that he has can be tied back, in some way or another, to the UFC, the opportunity that they gave him.
Does he want his legacy to be… My last fight, I broke my leg and I touted the greatest… pic.twitter.com/9SjvNtbdeS
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 24, 2025
“I don’t think he wants his legacy to be that,” Michael Chandler defined. “Then again, I haven’t walked a mile in that man’s shoes, so I’m not going to say what he is thinking. My heart of hearts says he’s coming back at some point, but if I was a betting man, I ain’t put money on it.”
