UFC star Michael Chandler was brutally honest about the chances of a Conor McGregor comeback ahead of UFC 314.
Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor were expected to clash after coaching opposite each other on The Ultimate Fighter 31. But two years after they met on the set for the first time, a fight has yet to come to fruition despite Chandler’s long wait for McGregor.
Chandler will face Paddy Pimblett in the UFC 314 co-main event next month in Miami. He returns to the Octagon after falling to Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in November, after a multi-year wait for McGregor to return to the Octagon.
Chandler and McGregor were set to fight at UFC 303 last June before McGregor withdrew on weeks’ notice due to injury. McGregor remains indefinitely sidelined, and a timeline for a potential return remains foggy.
Michael Chandler admits he wouldn’t bet on Conor McGregor’s MMA return
Amidst McGregor’s ongoing hiatus, Chandler is becoming increasingly faithless in getting the fight he’s waited years to come to reality.
During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Chandler expressed his latest position on McGregor’s potential UFC comeback.
“In my heart of hearts, yes [he comes back],” Chandler said of McGregor. “Because I think he wants to fight. He doesn’t want to finish his fighting legacy the way he has done it. His last fight was breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier and then touting the greatest comeback in combat sports history and then doing The Ultimate Fighter and then signing to fight me and then pulling out with another injury. That’s my heart of hearts.
“Now my mind, if you’re a betting man does Conor come back? No. I’d give it a slim chance.” (h/t MMA Fighting)
McGregor hasn’t fought in the Octagon since a trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. In recent months, McGregor has teased a return to boxing and was briefly in talks to face Logan Paul before negotiations fell apart.
Chandler’s fight with Oliveira was his first since a UFC 281 defeat to Poirier. Many questioned Chandler’s decision to wait for McGregor, wasting two valuable years of his career.
Conor McGregor was invited to the White House for St. Patrick’s Day
Amidst speculation over a potential comeback, McGregor made headlines Monday when he appeared at The White House for a St. Patrick’s Day meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
McGregor has become increasingly active in politics in recent months, specifically in Ireland. He attended Trump’s inauguration in January, linking up with the Paul brothers and other UFC colleagues.
Despite almost four years away from fighting, McGregor remains a top name in combat sports. UFC CEO Dana White, in his most recent update on McGregor’s return, targeted a comeback fight for year’s end.
Chandler remains in hot pursuit of McGregor, but the same can’t be said for McGregor’s side of the aisle. In the meantime, we continue to wait for the long-awaited comeback of the UFC legend.