- Michael Chandler opened up about the time he started doubting himself after not fighting for almost two years
- “Iron” divulged what he plans to do the moment he and “Notorious” engage inside the Octagon
Mike will rely on the power of his mind
Speaking to Shawn Ryan Show, “Iron” said he firmly believes that his mindset will play a crucial role in facing McGregor. Chandler emphasized the importance of mental preparedness, stating that maintaining a positive and focused mindset will be the cornerstone of his strategy.
“I went 688 days without winning a fight, almost two full years without winning a fight,” Chandler said. “For a mixed martial artist, this could be a career death sentence. That’s when the doubt from everybody plus yourself continues to compound on itself.
“So, I hired a sports psychologist,” he continued. “I really started realizing I can do all the reps and all the sets and all the push-ups and all the lifts and all the sparring and all the sessions. I can do all the physical stuff, but if I’m not building up the mind, I’m really just making a bigger, faster, stronger more dangerous subpar version of the man that I’m supposed to be if I don’t start doing the work inside my mind. So, that’s when I really started taking hold of what’s going on inside my mind.”
"I went 688 days without winning a fight, almost two full years without winning a fight. For a mixed martial artist, this could be a career death sentence."@MikeChandlerMMA pic.twitter.com/3Fm5Tb8g3s
— Shawn Ryan Show (@ShawnRyanShow) April 22, 2024
Mike will not waste time
Chandler went on and detailed his gameplan against “Notorious.” According to “Iron,” he expects McGregor to not be the same fighter he once was and he would try and land some “big punches” in the very first exchange.
“What I need to work on for this fight is continue to be the best version of myself, maybe a little bit more tactical. Realizing that I’ve earned this, realize that I am the better fighter. I am the tougher fighter and the guy who deserves it more, whether that be getting in his face, put him up against the cage, picking him up, putting him down, wilting his spirit a little bit more, taking the wind out of the sails a little bit more,” Chandler said.
“I don’t need to be getting into a firefight with a guy who has got a bigger rifle than me. I think I hit harder than he does I think I would venture to say his time out of the cage has lent itself to his timing not being what it used to be. His movement not being what it used to be, his reflexes not being what they used to be, being out of the cage now for it’ll be three years by the time we fight, so I’m just gonna, from the first exchange, hit him with big punches, make him second guess himself, keep my hands up a little bit more than I have in the past to pick him up, put him down, if I want to choke him, if I want to go out there and get the finish and just absolutely outclass and dominate him because I’ve deserved this and I’ve earned this,” he continued.
Michael Chandler says that Conor McGregor will not be "what he used to be" due to inactivity, and believes he's the better fighter between the two:
"I am the better fighter, I am the tougher fighter and I'm the guy who deserves it more.
I don't need to be getting into a… pic.twitter.com/v94QACqOQl
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 22, 2024
McGregor vs. Chandler will headline UFC 303 and will take place on June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Both fighters will be coming in hungry for victory as it has been years since they last tasted a victory.
Should he ends up beating McGregor, Chandler eyes to take on Max Holloway in a BMF title fight.
