UFC fighter Michael Chandler had high hopes of facing former champion Conor McGregor. In an unsurprising turn of events, his bout with the Irishman was canceled due to injuries on his rival’s side. The match has now been postponed to next year. Though many believe McGregor is washed up and may never step foot in the octagon, Chandler is positive about the matchup occurring.
The former Bellator star has been really patient and has waited two years for his battle with McGregor; however, it seems the fight is moving on. Chandler is set to face Charles Oliveira in a rematch in November at UFC 309. Chandler has spent years waiting for his rematch with McGregor despite different challenges, but he holds zero grudges towards the Irishman.
“No, I’m not going to let another man control my emotions and let another man control my life,” Chandler told reporters at UFC 306. “Over the last year and a half, it’s been an up and down of craziness. You guys see the way he lives his life. You guys see the Tweets, you guys see the media machine, and the constant attention that Conor is. And me, being the guy on the other side, I’m just a quieter guy by nature when it comes to not trying to put myself on the headlines nonstop and not trying to put myself in the conversation all the time.
“I’m not mad at him at all. I wish Conor the best. He’s earned every right to be in the position that he is. He’s earned every right to do what he wants to do and operate the way he wants to operate.”
Many have criticized McGregor for wasting two years of his career waiting on him, but Chandler has no regrets. He still believes the Irishman will make it back to the octagon, and when he does, he will be ready.
“It’s really funny,” Chandler told MMA Fighting. “You’ve had a thousand fighters sit here across from you and talk to you doing interviews, and all of them who have said that I was Conor’s little whipping boy, or I was waiting too long, or I was wasting my career, every single one of them would have held onto this Conor fight even if they say publicly that they wouldn’t. Every single one of those guys wants this fight.”
“I do think [he returns],” Chandler said. “Maybe I’ve just been so close to it and so focused on it that you just look at his history. Conor McGregor is a nothing, nobody without the sport of mixed martial arts. Without the UFC platform. Without the legacy that he has created.
“I believe he’s romantic about it. I believe that he loves the sport. and I believe that his spirit loves the sport but sometimes his body and his brain want other things. I’ve never walked a mile in that man’s shoes, neither have you, so who are we to critique him? But I do believe he comes back and when he does, I’ll be waiting. I just might have the title by then.”
Despite his dutiful wait on McGregor, a rematch with Oliveira could put Chandler on the line for title contention. A win against Oliveria could open up his future, and he could even face UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev. Regardless of the results of his upcoming bout, Chandler is confident his wait will pay off.
“I still stand firm in the notion that Conor McGregor is coming back,” Chandler said. “When he does, his road goes through Nashville, Tenn. and Michael Chandler and we finish The Ultimate Fighter. But it’s not going to be my next fight. I am Conor’s next fight but he is not my next fight.”
“When he gets his house in order, I’ll be waiting for him,” Chandler said about McGregor. “If not, I’ve got no problem beating Charles and going to fight for the title because if I had that choice today, I’m going to fight Islam after I beat Charles.”
