UFC fighter Michael Chandler has shared an update on his hopes of facing Conor McGregor.
The pair have been pitted against each other for the latest series of The Ultimate Fighter, which sees MMA prospects and UFC veterans fight to earn a contract in the promotion. The reality show is also centred around the idea of a fight between McGregor and Chandler, though an official date has yet to be confirmed.
‘Notorious’ McGregor has been out of the octagon since July 2021, breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier, which has led to him leaving the testing pool for anti-doping agency USADA due to the demands of his recovery. USADA requires athletes to submit to testing for six months before being eligible to fight in the UFC. McGregor has seemingly missed the deadline to return in 2023 but Chandler remains hopeful of the fight being made.
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“Of course, everybody wants answers,” Chandler said in an interview with former UFC champion Daniel Cormier. “They’re eager for answers. But, ultimately, we all have to practice patience. This, for me, is a time right now to practice patience.
“I knew what I signed up for. I knew doing the Ultimate Fighter that there was gonna be a lull and a long period of time and the show. We’re not even halfway through the show yet.”
McGrgeor has claimed that an announcement will come while the TUF series is being aired, with the last episode due to be broadcast on August 15. All-action fighter Chandler is confident that the former two-weight UFC champion will want to stick to his word.
“I don’t think he wants to stain his legacy by leading us all down this road of, ‘I’m doing the Ultimate Fighter, I’m fighting Michael Chandler… oh by the way, I’m not coming back, make sure you buy my Tidl Sport and my Irish whiskey,” Chandler continued.
“He’s coming back. Yes, supposedly, there was a countdown with USADA, six months and all that other stuff. That’s not for me to choose or decide. Have there been exemptions before? People are talking about exemptions, of course, that’s on the table.”
“All I know is I’m controlling the controllables, and I also know that either way, I’m gonna keep on moving forward. And I do believe I will fight Conor within the next six months.”
