Michael Chandler would like nothing more than to fight Conor McGregor. But the former contender realizes he might need to look elsewhere for his next fight.
Chandler and McGregor have been scheduled multiple times since appearing on The Ultimate Fighter. Each time, though, something happens and the fight is pulled from the cards.
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The last time Chandler fought was in 2022 when he lost to Dustin Poirier. So, as he moves forward and into 2025, he is looking to schedule another opponent.
“I am an optimist by default,” Chandler told Lucky Block (thanks to MMA Mania for the quotes). “So I do believe the Conor fight will happen. Right now we are in a period where things are being talked about.
“As much as I respect Conor, my legacy is not hinged upon this fight. I am running my own race and continuing to move forward.”
So, who would Chandler like to see standing across him inside the Octagon? Another former UFC champion comes to mind.
“The most realistic option for me if you look at the landscape is Charles Oliveira,” he said. “I love the rematch with Charles. I think it’s a great fight to get the fans pumped up.”
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The 38-year-old lost to Oliveira in 2021 for the vacant lightweight title. He is just 1-2 since with a knockout win over Tony Ferguson in early 2022.
Chandler also mentioned the likes of Poirier, Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan as other candidates he would like to fight.
