After years and yards of wait and toil, Michael Chandler sees hope on the horizon. For the last couple of years, Chandler has chased a fight with former two-division champion Conor McGregor. However, the former Bellator fame has nothing to show for it except a failed booking and word of mouth. But that could be changing again as the fighter is amping up hope.
Michael Chandler was to meet โNotoriousโ atop the UFC 303 pay-per-view top bill at June-end. However, Conor McGregor withdrew from media obligations, reportedly due to a toe injury. Yet to be rebooked, both these fighters along with Charles Oliveira, Alexander Volkanovski, and others are due on the spectrum for some fight news. Chandler, who keeps to his optimal training teased via his IG on Sunday that a fight is on.
Wheels in motion to bite down on that mouthpiece againโฆ Bet on yourself, always…Walk On…See you at the top!
Michael Chandler via his IG (@mikechandlermma)
Although he maintains a semi-active commentary, Chandler also updates on his weekly training regimen and camp status on X. โIron; has been keeping to grind these past few weeks. Although Chandler doesnโt directly name McGregor, any billing for the former Bellator lightweight champ will likely be against โMacโ. Itโs not clear, however, if this fight will happen this year. CEO and taskmaster Dana White previously dismissed Conor McGregor fighting in 2024 without a clean bill of health.
Aim small, miss small ๐ซ๐ฏ ground and pound work! The goal is finding the smallest little targets on the bag and hurling punches as hard as humanly possible.
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Stay Dangerous, my friends!
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Walk On.
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See you at the top! pic.twitter.com/3TudzwHY5Fโ Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) September 1, 2024
McGregor has been out of competition for over three years. Last time, at UFC 264, he suffered a catastrophic leg injury in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier. Poirier was also Chandlerโs last opponent, a submission loss at UFC 281. With McGregorโs outlandish traits, the Kill Cliff FC fighter has been garnering support for his resolve. However, some fans do not take well to this infinitely long camp. As such, despite the light at the end of the tunnel, Chandlerโs teases have received much backlash.
Fight fans react to yet another Michael Chandler tease, sans Conor McGregor
Michael Chandler โ former Bellator lightweight world champion was to make a mark on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada. The 38-year-old has had a mild good running since joining up. The American lightweight even faced top names and already got a title shot opportunity based on his run as a Bellator MMA brand face with record wins under his array.
Fans jibe down Michael Chandler for a long wait (Source: irishmirror.ie/Instagram)However, Chandlerโs (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) wait for the Team SBG Ireland superstar Conor McGregor has not been yielding much. With McGregorโs โnotoriouslyโ splintering attention to other avenues or even teasing free agency, itโs not looking too bright.
Accordingly, a prominent reaction (@acdmma_) mocked โbro this is the longest training camp in the history of combat sportsโ. Some have even alluded to a better option, like rematching Dan Hooker. Hence. hereโs what fans think of this obnoxiously long camp for a single fight yet to happen.
I love you but change your target, you can kill a lot of lightweight bro
-Advertisement-โ Basileus ! (@BasileusLe10E) September 1, 2024
That Dan Hooker rematch looks good
โ Victor Damone Jr. (@vicdamonesports) September 1, 2024
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Still doing the work.
โ Robert Brown | Ultiverseโก๏ธ๐ (@rbrown00) September 1, 2024
Only z6 more years until the Conor fight!
-Advertisement-โ Not Greg (@dogecoinmillion) September 1, 2024
Get a fight chandler!
โ แดxแดแดแดแดแด ๐บ๐ฟ๐ (@jxkemma) September 1, 2024
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Hells yeah!! 24 month fight camp!! And counting!!!
โ ole Long Bowl (@CircusNiNjA79) September 1, 2024
2 year training camp is elite! Letโs make it 3 at this point
-Advertisement-โ Skinny Mathias (@SkinnyFormal) September 1, 2024
Holds the WORLD RECORD for the longest fight camp in the history of combat sports !!
โ game bred (@gamebred741168) September 1, 2024
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Many have consequently liked Chandler for being such an athlete and keeping to the grind. However, most others have jibed him down for foraging for McGregorโs comeback bout. All in all, hereโs hoping the future holds better news.
