Both Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor have expressed their willingness to fight each other at some point down the line. According to Chandler, the blockbuster matchup is inevitable.
During a recent interview with ESPN MMA, UFC president Dana White discussed the promotion’s plans for 2023.
When asked about McGregor’s return, White claimed that whenever the Irishman is ready to compete, a fight will be booked. He even name-dropped Chandler as a “fun” matchup for the former two-division champion.
Speaking about a potential fight against Conor McGregor on a recent episode of his series Walk On Wisdom, Michael Chandler stated that he hasn’t received any response from ‘The Notorious’ yet:
“Have I got a response from Conor McGregor? No response thus far. That’s a fight that UFC has expressed interest in. I think Conor is interested in it based upon his response in the past.”
Nevertheless, Chandler is confident that the fight will eventually come to fruition, adding:
“I think there’s no doubt that me and Conor will step into the octagon together eventually. I don’t know if it’s next, but it definitely will be in the future.”
Both Michael Chander and Conor McGregor are coming off losses to Dustin Poirier. ‘The Diamond’ defeated McGregor twice last year, while Chandler’s last outing was a submission defeat to the former interim champion at UFC 281 last month.
Chandler’s last win was a sensational knockout victory over Tony Ferguson earlier this year. Soon after his win over Ferguson, Chandler called for a welterweight clash against McGregor.
Catch Michael Chandler’s comments below (10:30):
What are the opening odds for a potential Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight?
Michael Chandler’s spectacular knockout and post-fight interview at UFC 274 garnered a response from Conor McGregor. The Irish superstar congratulated the former Bellator champion for his performance and call-out, and even indicated that he is willing to fight him at some stage of his career.
Every Chandler fight in the UFC has been a sight to behold. ‘Iron’ has adopted an all-action approach since signing with the UFC and has since emerged as one of the most entertaining and fan-friendly fighters on the roster. A fight against McGregor is undoubtedly a hugely marketable fight.
Oddmakers were quick to release the opening line now that all parties involved appear to be targeting the matchup. McGregor opened as a -155 favorite, while Chandler opened as a slight underdog at +135.