Michael Chandler‘s been forecasting a fight with Conor McGregor for quite a while, a fight that Chael Sonnen believes is far from the realm of reality.
The former Bellator Champion was scheduled to finally meet McGregor at UFC 303 last month to cap off International Fight Week, but those plans were all torn up after the Irishman pulled out with a broken pinky toe. Chandler is still leaning towards waiting for McGregor and the massive payday that comes with it, but by November, it will have been two whole years since Chandler last fought – that being a submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, leaving many to wonder if this pursuit of McGregor is all a waste of his time.
Sonnen On Chandler: “He’s Got To Move On”
At this rate, former UFC title challenger Sonnen says Chandler should take up another job as… a weatherman?
“By the end of the year, Michael Chandler will finally assume his new role as a weatherman,” Sonnen said of the 38 year-old’s current situation on Good Guy / Bad Guy. “I feel that’s what he’s prepping for. Picture what he’s asking for. He’s asking for a fight with Conor McGregor. That simply can’t happen. But he’s staying on, right? He’s staying noble. He’s staying dependent.
“Picture Michael Chandler wearing rain gear. Okay? I’m talking about the yellow jacket. The hood is up. He’s got a microphone. He’s broadcasting a potential storm coming while he’s standing in the middle of the Sahara desert, because that is as much opportunity as he’s going to have to fight Conor McGregor. He’s got to move on.”
“None Of Those Things Are Going To Happen”
That’s not to say Chandler hasn’t already applied some pressure on McGregor as of late, claiming he had been offered a title shot against reigning champion Islam Makhachev – a consolation prize of sorts for waiting on the Irish UFC superstar.
I’ve been offered @MAKHACHEVMMA in October – but if @TheNotoriousMMA little pinky toe is ready by Sept, let’s do sphere. Biggest sporting event in history of sports!!!! @RiyadhSeason #ufc306 pic.twitter.com/STUUFns2Hp
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 2, 2024
Not long after that, Chandler followed up with a call-out of another star in Nate Diaz, who’s currently a free agent.
Sit down, Ron… better idea – me and @NateDiaz209 fight like real men, while Conor sits on a yacht and watches on PPV in his slippers. #ufcnoche #riyadhseason https://t.co/VKR7MFAdg2
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 9, 2024
“He allegedly, all in the last week, has been offered a world title fight against Islam. Then he got in the way of his own headline and stepped in front of it and has called out Nathan Diaz for the spear. Now, I got all sorts of problems with that,” Sonnen said of Chandler’s recent comments. “One, different weight class. Two, he called out a guy that’s not even signed to the organization…
“None of those things are going to happen but he knows that. He was working a different angle, trying to show Conor I have power and I want to move on. He has not given up on the idea of still getting in there with McGregor.”
Do you agree with Chael Sonnen? Is it finally time for Michael Chandler to move on from a fight with Conor McGregor?
