‘Iron’ Michael Chandler believes his fight with Conor McGregor will go down as part of the biggest card in UFC history next year.
For nearly a year, fight fans have been waiting with bated breath for an official announcement regarding Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to the Octagon. We’ve known for quite some time that his opponent would be former Bellator champion Michael Chandler, but no other details have emerged thus far.
With the final quarter of 2023 already upon us, it’s safe to assume that the highly anticipated clash won’t be going down before the end of the year, but speaking with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Chandler suggested that the bout could go down on a very historic night for the UFC.
“The status is the fight is still happening, unequivocally,” Chandler said. “The fight is not booked for a date. The fight is not booked for a venue. The fight is booked between Chandler and Conor. There is no way that Conor comes back and doesn’t fight me. If Conor doesn’t fight me, he’s probably not coming back and that’s out of my control.
“So, he’s coming back and he’s fighting me. At this point, by deductive reasoning and by process of elimination, there’s a main event in December. There’s a main event in November. We’re not gonna not be a main event, so that pushes us into 2024. I’m ready to fight in January, February, March, April, May… Whenever. So, we’ll see. It makes sense that there’s a very historic card coming up with the UFC.
“I haven’t been told that’s when we’ll meet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s when it is.”
Michael Chandler on the status of his fight with Conor McGregor #TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/01j8owt0G8
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 4, 2023
Michael Chandler Believes UFC 300 is the Logical Setting for His Fight with Conor McGregor
That historic card coming up just happens to be UFC 300. No official date or details have been announced, but the landmark event looks to be on track for April 2024. Traditionally, the promotion’s centennial events are loaded with big-name talent making it a prime setting for McGregor vs. Chandler.
“My heart of hearts says, the biggest fight we’ve seen in a very long time is gonna go down on the biggest card the UFC is gonna put together since UFC 200. Since UFC 100,” Chandler continued. “My gut says we might be waiting out till UFC 300. The good thing is, I’ve got a lot of good things to keep me busy and I’ve got the opportunity to train for Conor for a very long time.”
Michael Chandler: My guts says we might be waiting out til UFC 300.#TheMMAHour pic.twitter.com/rm5RBKmpP7
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 4, 2023
If the fight does in fact go down at UFC 300, that gives both men roughly six months to prepare from this point. Of course, much of the bout going down at the event hinges on whether or not Conor McGregor re-enrolls in the USADA testing pool. Traditionally, fighters are required to enroll for a minimum of six months before being cleared to step inside the Octagon. That means that if McGregor hopes to fight at the event, he would need to be back in the pool at some point this month.
Of course, there is always the possibility that the Irishman could receive an exemption shortening his timeframe for testing. The UFC did something similar for former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar ahead of UFC 200, but that didn’t necessarily render the best results with Lesnar popping for PEDs prior to and following the event.
Not to mention the resulting years of litigation with Lesnar’s opponent that night, Mark Hunt.
Watch the full MMA Hour interview below:
