Michael Chandler has given Conor McGregor ‘huge props’ for his psychological warfare, as followers await an official announcement across the pair’s UFC conflict.
McGregor vs Chandler was initially introduced in February, as was the pair’s involvement within the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, although no date, location or weight class was confirmed for the battle. The bout remains to be but to be formally introduced, although McGregor stated final week that it will happen in December.
Speaking to ex-UFC champion Daniel Cormier on ESPN, Chandler stated on Tuesday (15 August): “You know I’m ready, I’m always staying in shape. If it could happen by the end of the year, that would be absolutely phenomenal. You know I’m ready tomorrow.
“But if it spills over into 2024, either way [it’s] the most exciting guy in the sport – myself – versus the biggest star in the sport. People are gonna tune in, and we’re gonna put butts in seats.
“I can’t wait to go in there, step in the Octagon, and fight this man – whenever it happens.”
Irishman McGregor remains to be absent from the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool, that means he’s ineligible to compete for not less than six months until an exemption is made. American Chandler admitted that McGregor’s lack of drug assessments does give him pause over their deliberate battle.
“That’s definitely one aspect of it, obviously,” Chandler stated. “Even that, too – is he training? I don’t know how much he’s training. We see him on boats more than we see him hitting bags, I’ll tell you that much.”
McGregor, 35, and Chandler, 37, served as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter this summer season, with the finale airing this week. In one confrontation on the UFC tv present, McGregor shoved Chandler within the face. “He mushed my face, and some day he’s gonna pay for it,” Chandler stated. “Until then, it’s just funny on TV.
Conor McGregor feeds Anthony Joshua a sip of the UFC star’s new stout
(Dazn)
“The great thing about Conor, and I will give him some huge props here, is he would go three or four days of trying to be my friend, and then all of a sudden he’d flip the script and go completely nuts on me – or hit a little deeper of a cut to really try to get under my skin. You never quite knew which Conor you would get.”
Former dual-weight champion McGregor final fought in July 2021, struggling a damaged leg in a second straight loss to Dustin Poirier. Meanwhile, Chandler final competed in November, dropping to Poirier through submission.
Speaking at London’s O2 Arena after Anthony Joshua’s knockout of Robert Helenius on Saturday, McGregor laid out a plan to battle Chandler in December earlier than taking up Justin Gaethje then previous rival Nate Diaz.
Click right here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the most recent sports activities movies.