Michael Chandler by no means gave up hope on ultimately dealing with Conor McGregor after they have been scheduled to fulfill following a training stint on The Final Fighter however fixed delays, accidents and ultimately a combat cancellation pressured him to maneuver on together with his profession.
The previous light-weight title challenger then promptly booked back-to-back fights in opposition to Charles Oliveira and Paddy Pimblett, however Chandler knew if McGregor ever really returned to compete once more, he needed to be the primary title on the checklist of potential opponents. Now that persistence may lastly repay with McGregor shouting to the heavens that he needs to headline the primary and maybe solely UFC occasion on the White Home in 2026 and even Dana White has taken this comeback significantly.
Whereas nothing is signed, sealed and delivered simply but, Chandler seems like his inevitable showdown in opposition to McGregor may lastly occur on arguably probably the most historic UFC card of all time.
“I believe we’re nearer now than we ever have been,” Chandler advised MMA Combating about McGregor really preventing once more. “I’ve at all times stated when you’re a betting man, don’t put cash on him essentially coming again however now this modifications issues lots.
“In my coronary heart of hearts, I believe I’m preventing Conor McGregor on the White Home and that certain does make a ton of sense for a mess of causes.”
As a lot as he needs to settle issues with McGregor within the octagon, Chandler makes it clear that in actuality his first precedence is getting a slot on the White Home card.
After all nearly each athlete below contract has made the identical request however Chandler believes his ultra-exciting type mixed together with his drawing energy makes him a probable option to get that chance.
“Initially, I would like the White Home,” Chandler stated. “Ideally, if it turns into Conor, that might be superior. We have now some unfinished enterprise. I’ve bought respect for him, he’s bought respect for me, however we do have [some] unfinished enterprise. He has expressed curiosity. When he put out that meme of me and him, I assume might name it a meme, it was A.I., it was me and him. He’s referred to as me out on Twitter and stated we have now unfinished enterprise and we do.
“We have now unfinished enterprise. We might be the one fighters to not combat after The Final Fighter, who have been in the identical weight class. Conor and I, it is sensible.”
Add to that, Chandler believes his dependability makes him an ideal option to take a marquee spot on that White Home card as a result of he guarantees he’s displaying as much as compete it doesn’t matter what.
“I by no means pulled out of a combat. I by no means missed weight,” Chandler stated. “Crucial factor about this White Home card whether or not I’m a shoe in for it or not, once you’re constructing a card of this magnitude, it’s not essentially even about placing on the most effective combat. It’s about placing on the most effective fights which might be probably the most dependable. Which fighters and which matchups, which marquee matchups are going to occur on the White Home garden which have virtually have a digital certainty of really taking place. On this loopy sport, there are not any ensures, however I’m about as certain as a assure as you could possibly be.
“If I can stroll to the octagon, if I can bodily make it to the octagon, I’m displaying up. That octagon door is closing, and I’m placing on a present for the followers.”
When it comes particularly to McGregor returning, Chandler admits that even his skepticism has grown in regards to the former two-division champion ever preventing once more as time handed for the reason that Irish celebrity final set foot within the octagon.
It’s been over 4 years since McGregor suffered a ugly damaged leg in a trilogy combat in opposition to Dustin Poirier after which a damaged toe stopped him from preventing Chandler again in 2024. Since that point, McGregor has repeatedly talked a couple of comeback however by no means extra vehemently that declaring his plans to headline the UFC White Home occasion.
The magnitude of this explicit card is what successfully put Chandler excessive in the case of his perception that McGregor is taking his comeback significantly.
“I believe we’re positively lots nearer as we speak than we ever have been,” Chandler stated. “I’ve heard the feedback from [David] Feldman, his enterprise accomplice [in BKFC] who they spend a number of time with. I do have some inside sources of individuals near him who’ve stated the very same sentiment. Clearly, withdrawing from the race of president of Eire will get his focus a bit of bit extra again on coaching.
“I’ve stated a model of this a thousand occasions about us fighters on the whole: While you get on this sport you need the largest fights, the brightest lights, probably the most sum of money, probably the most eyeballs you probably can. Conor has been no exception to that. Conor has achieved that his total profession. All the pay-per-view data and the largest spectacles you could possibly probably be on. That’s precisely what Conor McGregor’s model is and that’s precisely what myself and each single fighter needs. When this White Home combat card bought introduced, clearly Conor tweeted about it or threw one thing on the market about it. It appeared a bit of little bit of smoke and mirrors, a bit of little bit of blunder right here and there, however finally if there ever was a card that Conor McGregor comes again for, it makes a number of sense it could be this one.”
For all of the discuss in regards to the UFC White Home occasion, the cardboard isn’t anticipated to happen till someday round June 2026, which remains to be virtually a yr away.
With regards to planning, White has stated publicly he expects to begin matchmaking for that occasion in February, which is why he hasn’t spent a lot time speculating on who may headline that card. However White has stated repeatedly that he’s bought confidence that McGregor is significantly concentrating on that date for his return.
“He and I’ve been speaking continuous,” White stated about McGregor on the Impaulsive podcast. “He’s like ‘I’m lifeless severe, I would like this. I’m coaching, I’m again within the [testing] pool, I’m doing all of the shit.’ So we’ll see. We nonetheless bought a protracted approach to go. We’ve nonetheless bought a protracted approach to go till February after we begin making this card. We’ll see the way it performs out.”
Now Chandler positively remembers all of the flack he took for sitting and ready for McGregor the final time round however he by no means wavered in his perception the combat would occur as a result of he repeatedly acquired assurances from the UFC.
As soon as he knew McGregor wasn’t coming again, Chandler instantly booked his personal return this previous November.
It’d really feel like de ja vu over again with this newest state of affairs however Chandler says he’s as soon as once more keen to attend however this time it’s not whilst a lot about McGregor as getting on that White Home card.
“Ready and myself are synonymous in lots of people’s eyes due to The Final Fighter and all that stuff,” Chandler stated. “However this one’s not that distant plus I did have two fights back-to-back in 5 months. As quickly as I made the choice to leap again in, it was [Charles] Oliveira in November, it was Paddy [Pimblett] in April. Had a torn meniscus, torn abductor muscle, torn hamstring, jacked up left leg, barely bought wholesome by the point it was time to begin that coaching camp and needed to type of gingerly soar in however I did. I wished to. I wished to throw myself into the fireplace. That is very a lot a sink or swim sport and earlier than you recognize it, when you don’t say sure, this sport will go you by.
“So I wished to leap in and be energetic instantly. Now we’re centered lots on issues exterior of the octagon and actually specializing in the psychological, the religious, and clearly the bodily, however I’m positively keen to attend as a result of it’s not that distant once you actually take into consideration the promotion that we’re going to should throw into this combat.”
Nothing is assured till provides are made and contracts are signed however Chandler really believes if McGregor is definitely returning for the UFC White Home occasion, his title must be on the opposite finish of that bout settlement.
“Clearly if he needs to retire and sail off into the sundown, that’s one factor,” Chandler stated. “But when he comes again, it’s bought to be Chandler vs. McGregor on the White Home. I believe there’s lots of people on board with that.”
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