While Conor
McGregor recently indicated that UFC was ready to move on from
Michael
Chandler as a potential opponent, Dana White says that’s not
the case.
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McGregor and Chandler have served as opposing coaches on “The
Ultimate Fighter 31,” and the two are supposed to square off at the
conclusion of the season. However, McGregor has yet to enter the
USADA drug testing pool, which has put the status of his return in
question.
“I talked to Conor, either yesterday or the day before, and yeah,
he’s ready to fight,” White said at post-fight press conference for
the Contender Series on Tuesday night. “I said, ‘Listen, get in
shape and let’s figure this out.’”
After Justin
Gaethje defeated Dustin
Poirier in the UFC 291 headliner on July 29, McGregor called
out the new BMF champion. In a since-deleted tweet, the Irish star
claimed that the promotion might be interested in booking him
against an opponent other than Chandler.
“I’ll do it if they want, no [problem],” McGregor wrote. “I don’t
think they want him not more [though]. There’s loads of juicy
fights around and my return date is my return date. I never gave a
f—k about who it was. Ever. I’ll fight anyone. I’ll even fly them
to me, ask [Paulie Malignaggi]. Flown in and [beat] around.”
According to White, that was simply a case of McGregor playing mind
games.
Yeah, he’s fighting Chandler. He likes to f—k with everybody,”
White said. “You know what I mean? Especially his opponent, or
possible opponents.”