Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Michael
Chandler has shut down claims that Conor
McGregor went into
UFC 329 knowing that he was injured, insisting that the
Irishman still wants to fight him.
McGregor’s return following a five-year hiatus ended in
disappointment as he suffered a knee injury seconds into his
rematch with Max
Holloway at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While the former
two-division champion is set for another stint on the sidelines as
he recovers from the injury, Chandler sees McGregor eventually
returning to the Octagon, potentially against him.
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Michael Chandler explains why he believes Conor McGregor wanted
to compete at UFC 329
After McGregor’s return to the UFC ended in anticlimactic fashion,
Chandler came to his defense. The former Bellator
MMA champion dismissed the claim that McGregor had an injury
going into UFC 329.
“I would be absolutely surprised, like the most surprised on the
planet, if Conor just showed up for a paycheck, limped in there and
said, ‘I don’t care, I’ll give you guys one minute, shave my head
into a mohawk, show up, do the intros and then just bow out a
minute later,’” Chandler said in an Instagram post. “You can say
what you want about Conor, but one thing he is not, is a quitter,
one thing he is not, is a bamboozler. The body is unpredictable and
every fight is unpredictable and if you look at Conor, (he always
comes out with a kick),” he added.
Chandler, who is yet to face McGregor despite starring opposite the
Irishman on “The Ultimate Fighter” and being booked against him
previously, still believes that “Notorious” wants to fight him
after their 2024 bout was canceled.
“I believe he wants to fight me; I believe he tried to fight me; I
believe that’s how the negotiations went, other plans were made,
but the honor and the integrity of wanting to stick to and be a man
of his word since he pulled out of that fight back in 2024,” he
explained. “I know everyone is disappointed, but keep on watching;
this ain’t the last you’re gonna see of Conor McGregor and I’m
excited to see how it plays out.”
McGregor has one fight left in his UFC contract. He has confirmed
that he will undergo surgery for his knee injury, insisting that he
will return to fight out his contract.