Michael Chandler is still “delusional.”
The No. 12-ranked lightweight contender wasted two years of his competitive prime waiting for a Conor McGregor mega fight (and mega payday) that never came, thanks to the Irishman’s war with USADA and subsequent toe injury. When “Iron” finally accepted that his “Notorious” bout was off the table, he returned to action and lost consecutive fights against Charles Oliveira
and Paddy Pimblett.Chandler, now 39, is just 2-5 under the UFC banner.
“In my heart of hearts,
I think I’m fighting Conor McGregor at the White House and that sure does make a ton of sense for a multitude of reasons,” Chandler told MMA Fighting. “He’s called me out on Twitter and said we have unfinished business and we do. We would be the only fighters not to fight after The Ultimate Fighter, who were in the same weight class. Conor and I, it makes sense.”
Chandler (23-10) coached opposite McGregor (22-6) on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 31.
McGregor, who turned 37 back in July, has not competed since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier atop the UFC 264 lineup back in summer 2021, a span of more than four years. His team put together a “sham documentary” building to a UFC 300 comeback; but once again, McGregor was a no-show.
In fairness to Chandler, it was McGregor who first pitched the White House fight.
“I never pulled out of a fight. I never missed weight,” Chandler added. “The most important thing about this White House card whether I am a shoe in for it or not, when you’re building a card of this magnitude, it’s not necessarily even about putting on the best fight. It’s about putting on the best fights that are the most reliable. Which fighters and which matchups, which marquee matchups are going to happen on the White House lawn that have almost have a virtual certainty of actually happening.”
That explains why UFC CEO, Dana White, refuses to book this legendary ex-champ.
“In this crazy sport, there are no guarantees, but I’m about as sure as a guarantee as you could be,” Chandler continued. “If I can walk to the Octagon, if I can physically make it to the Octagon, I’m showing up. That Octagon door is closing, and I’m putting on a show for the fans.”
UFC will begin building its White House lineup in February.
