Chandler waiting for McGregor but, which UFC star has been ‘Iron’ been offered as opponent?
The American revealed on X that the UFC offered him to face a star, but said that he prefers to fight McGregor when he’s injury-free.
Conor McGregor couldn’t fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303 due to a toe fracture in his left foot. The American revealed on his X account that the company offered him a fight with a UFC star, but stated he wanted to wait for ‘The Notorious’ return.
Chandler has been waiting for around one and a half years to take on the most charismatic fighter the UFC has ever seen. Both men starred The UltImate Fighter show (TUF 31), and traditionally, both coaches face each other. That was the plan with both men, but while Chandler patiently waited for the Irishman, the former UFC double champion’s time never seemed to come.
While McGregor hasn’t fought since July 2021, when he broke his leg in his third clash against Dustin Poirier, Chandler hasn’t been in the octagon since November 2022, when he also lost to ‘The Diamond’ at UFC 281.
With McGregor out, Chandler is offered to fight a UFC star, but who?
While the Irishman is recovering from his last injury, UFC president Dana White offered Chandler an attractive plan B, fighting Islam Makhachev for the lightweight title. However, Chander said he prefers to fight McGregor at Las Vegas’ Sphere once The Mac is ready.
“I’ve been offered Islam Makhachev in October, but if Conor McGregor’s little pinky toe is ready by September, let’s do Sphere. Biggest sporting event in the history of sports!, the American said.
Furthermore, Chandler explained that “a good and passionate American” can overcome Makhachev’s sambo. The Russian didn’t like that comment and quickly answered. “You are unreliable dude, one tweet from your master, and you’ll run away. Champ needs a real opponent,” the pound-for-pound No. 1 said.
McGregor’s return, after a long time of negotiations, was scheduled for UFC 303 last weekend, but, two weeks before the Irishman broke a toe during training and fell from the card. Chandler still wants to face McGregor since he was told the check he would receive would be much bigger than those he has collected in his career. Considering that factor, it’s not surprising he prioritizes this clash, even though he could fight for the lightweight title against Makhachev.
Makhachev doesn’t want Poirier
The Russian didn’t show much interest in the fight with Chandler, and the American shared an image of himself mocking him. Despite this, Makhachev shared a tweet revealing he needed new rivals.
One of the opponents who could face him at the end of the year is Arman Tsarukyan, the number one in the ranking. However, the fighter of Armenian origin has been sanctioned to nine months without fighting (three months if he carries out a campaign against harassment) for hitting a fan while he was heading to the cage at UFC 300. The Makhachev vs Tsarukyan is a world-class clash, but now it’s on standby because of Tsarukyan’s incident with that fan.
Dustin Poirier, Makhachev’s last opponent, asked him for a rematch. “If Arman can’t fight, let’s go again”, The Diamond said alongside a picture of the first fight between the two.
In their fight, the Dagestani submitted him in the fifth round in a war in which Poirier ended up with his nose and several ribs broken. However, Makhachev gave him a negative answer: “No thanks, retire man… We good.”