LAS VEGAS – Michael Chandler has been about Conor McGregor more than enough in the latest times that he thinks he’s setting up to determine him out.
Former UFC two-division champion McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and former Bellator light-weight champ Michael Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) are set to mentor the impending Time 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” They are now filming the show in Las Vegas and attended UFC 285 on Saturday at T-Cellular Arena.
A battle has not been place on the textbooks but, but the “TUF” coaches historically combat at the conclusion of the period. Just one of the problems so far is the UFC stipulation that a fighter be in the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) drug screening pool for at least 6 months right before a combat. McGregor has been inactive since a broken leg in a July 2021 trilogy loss to Dustin Poirier and not in the tests pool.
Chandler explained that’s just one of the things messing with a timeline.
“I just requested my administration to start putting stress and determine out (when McGregor will be in the pool),” Chandler explained backstage at UFC 285. “Right now, we’re at March (4). If we want to combat in September, he’s received to hop in the (drug testing) pool. That is just the very simple point of the subject.
“We’ll see. I could (not) treatment significantly less, person. I really don’t treatment what he weighs, what he’s carrying out. How extensive he’s in the USADA pool does not make a difference to me. It’s an additional person with two arms and two legs and I have been accomplishing this for in excess of a decade, so, I’m thrilled to go out there and compete in opposition to him. But in the end, rules are procedures and we have got to determine out how to get all around the red tape and all and get him in the pool and get him tested and all that type of things.
Together with concerns about just when the struggle will choose put, a bodyweight course hasn’t been nailed down, both. And then there’s the issue of exactly where it will take spot.
McGregor gained UFC titles at featherweight and light-weight and also has fought at welterweight. Chandler is a profession lightweight, but stated he’s open up to fighting at a higher weight.
And McGregor’s involvement as the UFC’s most significant all-time attract could warrant a location larger than someplace like T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas – another essential position that hasn’t been figured out.
“At this point, I never believe it’s going to be at 155,” Chandler mentioned. “Conor’s expressed it is likely to be at 170. I would appreciate it at 170. I’ll combat him at 185. I’ll battle him at whatsoever bodyweight class we want to fight at. I could (not) care fewer. I just want to combat the guy. … He was talking about 185 and I referred to as his bluff. I believe he doesn’t assume I’m as heavy and as dense as I in fact am. I’m sitting listed here at 191 lbs, so I’ll battle at 185. I’ll fight a 170. If (UFC president) Dana (White) methods in – and I have listened to him discuss about 155 – if Dana techniques in and will get his way, potentially it is 155. I could (not) treatment less. I am a person who confirmed up in the UFC in September 2020 with my operate boots on, and I’ve mentioned indeed to every one possibility. I’ve claimed of course at each and every solitary action of the way.
“They want to do it at 170. I feel which is a awesome tiny sweet place. This exhibit (airing) finishes in August, so it would make a lot of perception for us to fight in September. I hope it’s September. And I think this fight is much too huge to do T-Mobile Arena. I think we offer out Allegiant Stadium (in Las Vegas) or Dallas Cowboys Stadium.
“There’s been mentions of it. I feel when you converse, you’re by no means accomplishing a stadium if it is not Conor McGregor suitable now. And then you glance at a male who can appear in and establish the intrigue, set butts in seats, make men and women feel something. Identify a man who’s bought extra momentum in the full UFC than than me. And now we’re performing ‘The Greatest Fighter’ – 12 episodes over the complete summer to establish the intrigue, to construct the animosity, to make this rivalry – and it is legitimate. You fellas know me. I’m a quite nice, even-keeled male. I do not genuinely like Conor McGregor that considerably, it turns out.
“I’ve got a ton of respect for him. But he and I, I really do not feel see eye to eye in a lot of methods, and that’s a ton of competitive chirp. But finally, I passed Allegiant Stadium right now and I told my wife, ‘Hey, we need to struggle there.’ There is no explanation we ought to be combating in T-Cellular Arena because we have the skill and the potential to do that. Dallas Cowboy Stadium: A person of the biggest reveals in in mixed martial arts record. I think it occurs.”
As for the struggle by itself, no matter of when or where by or what fat course, Chandler thinks McGregor’s current prediction that he’ll “slice through” Chandler is misguided.
“That’s particularly who we want – the most significant beat sports activities star and icon that we have at any time observed thinking he’s going to arrive again and slice by way of anyone,” Chandler stated. “That’s precisely what we want. That gains intrigue. It builds the momentum, it builds the mystique of who he is and us putting butts in seats. That’s particularly what we want. I can inform you this: It is undoubtedly not likely to materialize. I can notify you this: I see it likely a much diverse way.
“I imagine I’ve witnessed more than enough of Conor in excess of the final pair months to know that I am going to not just slice by way of him, but bludgeon him with both equally of these palms and do whatever I want, each standing or on the floor, and end him by the 2nd spherical. That is my ‘Mystic (Mac)’, my prediction, and I stand behind it.
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