Michael Chandler Needs to Move On From Conor McGregor

Michael Chandler calls out Conor McGregor at WWE RAW (via Yahoo Sports)

Former Bellator Lightweight Champion, and current UFC Lightweight contender, Michael Chandler has been waiting for a matchup with Former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion, Conor McGregor since 2021.

Since Chandler has been campaigning for a bout with the combat sports superstar, Alex Pereira has made his UFC debut, won the Middleweight Title, won the Light Heavyweight Title, and has cemented himself as a UFC superstar. Not only is this an insanely long time to keep calling out the same person, it shows how much Chandler actually wants this fight.

Chandler first called out Conor McGregor after his devastating head kick knockout of Former Interim Lightweight Champion, Tony Ferguson. He did so in in emphatic fashion, and made it clear that there was only one fight on his mind. For his callout, Chandler was awarded an opportunity to coach a season of The Ultimate Fighter, with McGregor as his opposing coach.

In this season, Chandler’s team of UFC veterans nearly swept McGregor’s team of young prospects who had not competed in the UFC before. Usually, the coaches who participate will then fight after the season has ended, but for several reasons, one being McGregor’s participation in the movie ‘Road House.’ However, this still has yet to happen and the season of The Ultimate Fighter that they coached was released in the summer of 2023.

McGregor said on January 1, 2024 that he would be fighting Chandler in June at Middleweight, a weight class neither have fought in in their career. The bout still has yet to be scheduled, and many believe this bout will be postponed yet again.

Despite this fact, Chandler took the opportunity to yet again call out McGregor in an appearance at WWE RAW on February 19. This was as intense as it gets, but it still came off as desperation on Chandler’s end.

At this point, it seems doubtful that McGregor will be returning to the UFC Octagon anytime soon. As for Chandler, there are many other prospects he could fight, but it seems evident that he is seeking the paycheck that comes with a McGregor fight.

Although it seems unlikely that this fight will occur, it is evident that Chandler is hellbent on ensuring that he gest the matchup he was promised when he coached The Ultimate Fighter opposite McGregor.