After more than a week of dire speculation and hopelessness, it finally came to be that Conor McGregor had sustained an injury. CEO Dana White announced Thursday that the fight with Michael Chandler will not happen. The news affects nobody more than Chandler, who had hedged his bets on this matchup for years. Now, Michael Chandler had to admit that it wasn’t the best of bets after all.
The return of ‘Mac’ at T-Mobile Arena would have served as the cornerstone of International Fight Week. More than that, it would have broken a dry spell. It’s been almost two years since Dustin Poirier last submitted Chandler at UFC 281. Conor McGregor’s return event had a projected $20 million in live gates in pre-sales after all. But, ‘Iron’ and his corner finally break the silence.
@thenotoriousmma was never the safe bet as an opponent, he was always the highest risk. Maybe the highest reward… but the biggest opportunity…. Embrace the uncertainty. See the opportunity. Take calculated risk… That’s what @mikechandlermma does…And if it doesn’t go as planned… redirect!
MegaFit Meals (@megafitmeals), tagged Michael Chandler, via IG
After opting to wait since November of 2022, even hardcore McGregor fans are veering towards Chandler. Instead of the lack of positivity around it all, Ariel Helwani nudges there might be a chance McGregor can reel back by August or September. #MegaFit Meals, in collaboration with Chandler, thus tries to put a more positive spin on it. The fighter has always said nothing changes with him in terms of preparation.
UFC top brass are now promoting Alex Pereira as the bargain feature main event for UFC 303. In more ways than one, Pereira making a title defense makes more sense than the nostalgia of ‘The Notorious’ returning. As for Michael Chandler, there’s no replacement announcement yet. However, others even urge him to move on from this spot.
UFC Legend tells Michael Chandler to move on from Conor McGregor
Very few understood the decision to wait until the point of UFC 303. Yet all agreed that McGregor vs Michael Chandler was the fight to make. Speaking to NFL stars Channing Crowder, Fred Taylor & Ryan Clark after camp on The Pivot Podcast, Chandler said even management was keen on this matchup. As a matter of fact, he had not received opportunities to be backup elsewhere at all.
Michael Chandler urged to look beyond Conor McGregor after UFC 303 cancellation (Source: hive.one › c › ufc/ X/UFC.go.com)Every fight needs the consensus PPV pull and superstardom that the Irishman provides. Similarly, Conor McGregor needed no one else but Chandler as an opponent, as it made the most sense. Both the TUF: Season 31 rival coaches had been out a similar amount of time. So, there were no title shot demands or constrictions in the way. However, UFC veteran and color commentator Daniel Cormier imparts some much-needed advice:
When you talk to Mike, his goals have not changed. He still wants to be world champion. I don’t know that even if he wins, this fight [vs. McGregor] moves him closer to being world champion…I don’t know that he should wait anymore. I think it’s time to move off of this, and I believe that the overwhelming sentiment is that [with McGregor] it is done.
Daniel Cormier via his Official YouTube channel (@DC_MMA)-Advertisement-
Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has pushed his timeline further and further with this fight. While the most grossing opportunity, ‘DC’ believes that skill-for-skill, this isn’t some 2015 McGregor he would have faced, especially in light of current injuries. The Hall of Famer urges Chandler to move on if undisputed gold is the endgame.
