McGregor vs. Chandler Won’t Happen This Year – ‘Not A Chance’
Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler will not happen in 2024.
That is according to Chael Sonnen. Their UFC 303 clash for June 29 was called off after McGregor withdrew with an injury. That was a massive setback for both fighters, given how long the fight had been talked about. The rivalry grew on the TUF 31 series. Chandler would win the team challenges, while McGregor got his own back on the coach’s challenge.
They were both seeking their first since their losses to Dustin Poirier. McGregor lost at UFC 264, as he broke his leg. Meanwhile, Chandler suffered a defeat at UFC 281 in 2022. There are suggestions that the fight will be rescheduled for The Sphere in Las Vegas in September. But Sonnen had doubts about whether the fight would happen this year.
McGregor vs. Chandler
“If I’m Michael Chandler, there’s a situation where I have to move on. The difference with Chandler is there’s nobody to move on to. It’s not a matter of, ‘OK, I got this great option and I got this great option.’ Not really. Chandler’s a big star. People definitely want to see him fight but he doesn’t have anyone that remotely comes close to having the drama and the steam of Conor McGregor. So, I’ve been for Chandler moving on from the beginning. At this point, I say wait just a little bit longer. Do we see this in 2024? Not a chance,” Sonnen said
Nevertheless, McGregor has said otherwise. The Irishman remains confident that the fight will happen again. There is no news about the nature of the injury. However, if it were to happen this year, it suggests it is a small niggle. Fans can only know how well McGregor will perform once he is in the Octagon. Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva also suffered major leg injuries. They were never the same fighters on their return.
McGregor’s Future
McGregor also does not need to fight again. His legacy has already been established since he is a two-weight world champion. However, given that he has lost three out of his last four UFC fights, McGregor’s return appears to be a desire to set that right. The Irishman would not take a risk by rushing himself back too early unless he was uncertain. And yet, Sonnen was not convinced about McGregor’s injuries. His following comments suggested there may be other reasons why McGregor did not take the fight.
“McGregor’s not hurt. I don’t know if we’re making TV or how much we’re supposed to play along. Conor McGregor is not injured and it’s a very tough spot when he has the people that are coming out speaking for him that have been filled in, and they all sworn to secrecy.
“They don’t want to cover because the truth always comes out. It’s a little bit of a tricky situation. I am disappointed. I don’t want to give Conor a hard time, and I am for the idea that health comes first. He’s known about this for well over a year. They were supposed to fight in June of last year. … Now we are here,” Sonnen added
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