Michael Chandler makes "complicated" admission about Conor McGregor fight

23 February 2024 , 11:54

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Michael Chandler makes "complicated" admission about Conor McGregor fight

Michael Chandler has revealed there are behind-the-scenes issues hampering his UFC clash with Conor McGregor.

UFC legend McGregor is expected to make his comeback fight against Chandler later this year after coaching against the American on TV show The Ultimate Fighter. The fight is still without an official date despite it being announced over a year ago and Chandler, who turns 38 in April, is beginning to get restless while waiting for McGregor to return.

“There’s a lot of complicated stuff happening behind the scenes,” Chandler said on The MMA Hour. "Nobody’s had to feel like they’ve waited longer than me, right? I’ve been ready to fight since right after The Ultimate Fighter. But I also understand the time off has been good. The time with my family has been good. Business has been booming outside of me fighting in the cage for a paycheck.

McGregor's return was delayed by his exit from the USADA drug-testing pool after breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in his last fight. The Irishman has been submitting regular drug tests since October as he moves closer to his fighting return. “Obviously there was the USADA stuff, and then now the new drug testing stuff," Chandler added.

"Conor’s got his stuff going on. He’s now promoting Road House that’s coming out in March. There was just all these different layers. Plus what Dana has said, money complicates things. There’s a lot of money involved in this fight. There’s a lot of money in Conor’s camp outside — what he has built and what he has amassed.

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“Everybody, whether you love him or hate him, you’ve got to respect what the man has built. Either way, the Chandler train is continuing to move forward and we’re not getting off this train. I can’t tell you the date. I can’t tell you a weight, but I can tell you the fight is happening. I have way too many assurances that this fight is happening to think otherwise.”

Over four years have now passed since McGregor's last UFC win, a 40-second knockout against Donald Cerrone in January 2020. The former two-weight world champion said his comeback fight is being targeted for June 29 in Las Vegas, but UFC boss Dana White contradicted his claim by giving autumn as a potential date.

Harry Davies