'I think the fight does happen at some point' - Michael Chandler says Conor McGregor clash could still take place
By Jonny Bray
Published 15/03/2025 at 14:40 GMT
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Michael Chandler will face Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event of UFC 314. He said that the highly anticipated clash with Conor McGregor could still take place one day. Chandler and McGregor were both coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31 and were set to face each other at UFC 303 in June 2024. However, McGregor pulled out of the contest due to injury.
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Michael Chandler believes he will fight Conor McGregor one day, but insists that he will not wait around to go toe-to-toe with the former UFC Champion.
Chandler looked set to face McGregor at UFC 303 in June 2024 after the pair were coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31, but the Irishman withdrew from the event due to injury.
Chandler has since fallen to a unanimous-decision defeat against submissions expert Charles Oliveira at UFC 309, and he will now face Paddy Pimblett in the co-main event of UFC 314 in April.
Chandler thinks that the highly anticipated clash with McGregor will go ahead at some point.
"Listen, we all want to know the answer to that question," he said.
"As you can see by my actions, fighting Charles [Oliveira] in November, now Paddy [Pimblett] in April, I am not waiting for Conor McGregor.
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"He knows my name is signed to that contract when he comes back.
"If he wants to fight, obviously we want to do it.
"We have to finish The Ultimate Fighter 31.
"I don't sit here and offer these things up.
"I get asked about Conor [McGregor] because I am connected to him and his road back to UFC to finish The Ultimate Fighter 31.
"I think we will do crazy numbers, I think it will be an exciting fight.
"I have done nothing but grow my platform and grow my name within the confines of competition in the UFC.
"It's a fun fight, I think it would sell out anywhere across the world, we would do massive numbers.
"I think the fight does happen at some point, but I am not holding my breath and I am certainly not sitting on the sidelines, as you can see by the decisions I am making."
Pimblett heads into the contest having won all six of his fights since arriving in the UFC in 2021.
However, Chandler believes the Liverpudlian is in for a massive test on the big stage.
"I think if I want to take him down I'll take him down," he added.
"I just went 25 minutes with Charles Oliveira, the most decorated submission artist in UFC history.
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"I am not saying I am not worried about Paddy's jiu-jitsu, it's good and he has got some submission wins, but I am just confident in my skill set.
"I am also confident in my hands, I am confident in my cardio, I have trained for more 25-minute fights than he has had fights.
"These are deep waters, this is a big fight and this is a big card.
"The stakes are high, the implications are high, but I have been here before and this is a new thing for him.
"We will see how he handles it."
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