Michael Chandler’s desire to face Conor McGregor has been a long-standing narrative, and the former Bellator champion has now reaffirmed why he believes he’s the rightful opponent to welcome the Irishman back into the octagon.
The Chandler-McGregor matchup has been teased since early 2023 when the UFC announced their bout.
Though initially lacking an official date, the anticipation heightened as the two served as opposing coaches in ‘The Ultimate Fighter 31.’ Finally, in 2024, their anticipated showdown was formalized with a set date.
Michael Chandler Asserts His Claim to Face Conor McGregor in the Octagon
Chandler recently emphasized in a YouTube interview with Andy Frisella why he’s unquestionably the deserving contender to take on McGregor.
“In the past couple of years, in terms of dedication, hard work, and discipline, I’m the one who has consistently shown up and earned it,” Chandler asserted.
Since his defeat to Dustin Poirier in late 2022, Chandler, the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion, faced scrutiny for opting to wait for a McGregor bout rather than pursuing other matchups.
Despite the skepticism surrounding McGregor’s return, Chandler remained resolute, refusing to waver. Now, with both slated for a welterweight clash at UFC 303 on June 29, Chandler can finally focus on his octagon comeback.
Notably, Chandler intensified his efforts to coax McGregor back into the octagon prior to the bout’s official date announcement. One of his bold moves occurred during an episode of ‘Monday Night RAW,’ facilitated by the UFC and WWE’s common ownership under the TKO Group Holding banner.
With a microphone in hand between matches, Chandler issued a resounding challenge to McGregor, echoing a prior promo he delivered at UFC 274 following his stunning knockout of Tony Ferguson.
