Dan Hooker believes Conor McGregor will earn a title shot with a win against Michael Chandler.
‘The Notorious’ last fought in July 2021, suffering a severe leg injury leading to his second consecutive loss against Dustin Poirier. Before returning to the Octagon, McGregor is coaching The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 alongside Chandler. Once the show is done airing, the UFC superstars are expected to meet in a highly-anticipated matchup.
During an interview with The AllStar, Hooker was asked about McGregor being matched up against Chandler, and he had this to say:
“That’s the best fight for Conor. That’s the biggest name that puts him one fight off a title shot… I feel like the next best fight at lightweight is probably me for Conor, but it’s far more dangerous than beating Chandler because I feel like beating me doesn’t put you in line for a title shot. I feel like he beats Chandler, regardless of the situation, knockout, decision, submission, he gets a title shot off that. That’s truly what Conor’s after.”
Chandler last fought in November 2022, losing to Dustin Poirier by third-round submission. Due to his massive fanbase and exciting fighting style, ‘Iron’ was the perfect opponent for McGregor’s return. The question is, will their combined star power make the winner worthy of a title shot next time out?
Will Conor McGregor fight for a UFC title with a win against Michael Chandler?
Diehard MMA fans know Conor McGregor is always one win away from a title shot. Therefore, whether the MMA community likes it or not, McGregor will likely be fighting for a UFC title if he can defeat Michael Chandler.
During an interview with Ariel Helwani, McGregor claimed he won’t return to lightweight, and his fight against Chandler will be at welterweight. On March 17, the 170-pound title is up for grabs between Kamaru Usman and Leon Edwards. Once the champion is determined at UFC 286, the division features several other title contenders, including Belal Muhammad, Colby Covington, and Khamzat Chimaev, assuming he stays in the division.
It’ll be intriguing to see if McGregor will skip the welterweight line by defeating Chandler. Before focusing on a title shot, ‘The Notorious’ must secure his first win since January 2020.
