Will Conor McGregor fight Michael Chandler in 2024?
Much has been made of the Irishman’s matchup with the American but alas it appears as though fight fans will have to wait until 2025 to see the pair dance.
While there had been extensive talk of a fight in December after Connor McGregor pulled out of the one that was set for late June, the UFC CEO has now made it clear that no such event will take place until the new year.
Dana White says no Chandler vs McGregor until 2025
That is indeed the reality that fight fans will now face after UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the news during a post-fight press conference for Dana White’s Contender Series on Tuesday night. This is of course the latest twist between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler after the former previously pulled out of the original fight back in June, after announcing that he had suffered a broken pinky toe in training. That didn’t stop further fuel from being added to the flame when both men served as opposing coaches during season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which began filming back in February 2023.
Needless to say, White’s declaration comes as yet another bump on the road to McGregor’s return from the broken tibia that he suffered in his UFC 264 trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Indeed, it has now been delayed several times, though McGregor himself made a number of references to facing Chandler in December after his most recent withdrawal due to his toe. Regardless, White has now put any speculation to rest with the comments he made on Tuesday. “We talked. We talked,” White said. “We didn’t meet up but we talked, and yeah, he wants to fight. So we’ll figure it out. [But] not this year. He won’t fight this year.”
At this point, one has to wonder if/when we will see McGregor again though one has to believe it’s in the best interest of all parties involved to see that he returns. This after all is the first fighter in UFC history to simultaneously hold titles in two divisions - the lightweight and featherweight. Yet, it’s got to be said that since those days, McGregor has only gone 1-3 with three stoppage losses and the one win coming against Donald Cerrone who was coming to the end of his career at the time.
We should also mention the exhibition boxing match loss to Floyd Mayweather as well as a string of legal troubles which is all to say, it’s not been a smooth ride for the 36-year-old in recent years. That said, it would be naive to believe that Conor McGregor doesn’t remain the biggest star in MMA such that any fight against any opponent would receive top billing. As for Chandler, the American is currently on a 1-3 record across his most recent bouts, a record that is not reflective of how skilled a fighter he is. Nonetheless, having not fought since 2022, the wait continues.