Who would Chandler like to fight if he can’t take on McGregor?
The American has been waiting for a long time to face ‘The Notorious’ but has a plan B if the fight with the former UFC champion doesn’t happen.
Is Michael Chandler running out of patience? It’s difficult to know but after waiting to fight Conor McGregor for so long, it could be a real possibility.
The American mixed martial artist has been waiting for the opportunity of his life, but the fight with The Notorious hasn’t happened yet. Although they are expected to meet inside the octagon at the end of 2024, there haven’t been any recent updates on it and the much-anticipated fight again seems to be surrounded by a skepticism atmosphere again.
UFC boss Dana White made an official announcement some months ago, stating both men would headline UFC 303 in June but McGregor got injured and their main event was canceled and replaced by Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira.
Who is Chandler’s alternative rival if he can’t fight McGregor?
The 38-year-old has been waiting and fully focusing on the Dublin native, but past mishaps and the lack of updates over the last weeks made him consider other possibilities.
“I am running my own race, and I’m continuing to move forward. I am at the point now where we are looking at all the options and not just fighting Conor… I’ve always felt that if the Conor fight didn’t happen I’m going to be just fine, and I will put butts in seats”, he said.
Chandler, who lost to Dustin Poirier in his last fight, didn’t hesitate to answer when asked about who he would like to take on next.
“Max (Holloway) is one of the top ones on that list regarding who I would love to share the Octagon with. Justin Gathje, Fight of the Year 2021, that’s another one. Me and Max would absolutely make some bloody, violent magic inside an octagon”, he added.
But considering that Holloway is scheduled to fight the featherweight champion and undefeated Ilia Topuria, Chandler revealed his favorite and most probable alternative fight.
“The most realistic option for me if you look at the landscape and you consider everything is Charles Oliveira. I love the rematch with Charles. Me and Charles for the number one contender spot. I beat Charles, knock him out in the first round, then all of a sudden I’m sitting at the number one contender spot and I get to choose whether I fight Islam (Makhachev), or Conor, and why not both?”, he said.
Chandler believes a fight with the Brazilian makes sense, as Oliveira also tasted defeat in his last fight, against Arman Tsarukyan, and he would have the chance to avenge his loss when both met in May 2021.