Michael Chandler recently shared his views on Conor McGregor’s heated comments directed at Ryan Garcia. The controversy ignited over Garcia’s failed drug test for ostarine, leading McGregor to criticize him on X/Twitter, the platform where this exchange took place.
Chandler, a former three-time Bellator lightweight champion set to face McGregor at UFC 303 on June 29, pointed out McGregor’s tendency to attack fighters from lighter weight classes. Intriguingly, Chandler steered clear of addressing rumors surrounding McGregor’s own alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.
Chandler tweeted,
“Can somebody check on @TheNotoriousMMA? I woke up to him verbally assaulting 125lbers on social media – it’s a bad look, phone the PR team, stat!”
McGregor’s attack marks a sharp turn from his previously cordial relationship with Garcia, whom he had commended for his strong performance against Gervonta Davis despite his loss, and later congratulated after his victory over Devin Haney.
The emerging conflict between Chandler and McGregor adds an intriguing layer to the narrative leading up to their welterweight bout at UFC 303. Chandler, who began training for the fight well ahead of its official announcement, has vowed to decisively defeat McGregor.
The two fighters recently took on coaching roles for opposing teams in the early 2023 season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter 31.’ Both display a high level of confidence in their respective abilities to win, yet McGregor faces several challenges, having not fought since July 2021 due to a severe leg injury sustained in a match against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
Conor McGregor just went wild on Ryan Garcia and Sean O’Malley 😳 pic.twitter.com/q2s1Tat3fN
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) May 3, 2024
Chandler’s mention of “125lbers” might also subtly hint at Sean O’Malley, who is actually the bantamweight champion. O’Malley had previously tested positive for Ostarine in 2018 and 2019, an issue that has resurfaced in light of Garcia’s situation and drawn McGregor’s scorn.
McGregor, who once invited O’Malley to spar, now openly criticizes him, signifying a significant shift in their relationship. Previously, O’Malley had admired McGregor, seeing him as a role model for his own career trajectory.
