Michael Chandler is not giving up on Conor McGregor.
Remember that whole Conor McGregor/Michael Chandler thing? Their fight was originally scheduled for UFC 303, but it never came to fruition once McGregor was forced out of the match due to injury.
Realistically speaking, it felt that the former UFC Lightweight Champion was giving Chandler the run around for about two years until deciding to run for Presidency. But Conor’s dream of becoming the President of Ireland is dead. At least for now.
McGregor has made it clear that he also wants to fight on the White House special card. While nothing is confirmed, Chandler would love to re-ignite their feud in 2023/2024.
“I think we’re closer now than we ever have been,” Chandler told MMA Fighting about McGregor actually fighting again. “I’ve always said if you’re a betting man, don’t put money on him necessarily coming back but now this changes things a lot.
In my heart of hearts, I think I’m fighting Conor McGregor at the White House and that sure does make a ton of sense for a multitude of reasons.”
As much as Conor has talked about fighting inside of the White House, he’s never given a particular name that he wants to lock horns against. But Chandler understands the risk of not being chosen to fight Mr. Gregor and makes it clear that getting on the White House card is his first priority.
“First and foremost, I want the White House,” Chandler said. “Ideally, if it becomes Conor, that would be awesome. We have some unfinished business. I’ve got respect for him, he’s got respect for me, but we do have [some] unfinished business. He has expressed interest. When he put out that meme of me and him, I guess could call it a meme, it was A.I., it was me and him. He’s called me out on Twitter and said we have unfinished business and we do.
We have unfinished business. We would be the only fighters not to fight after The Ultimate Fighter, who were in the same weight class. Conor and I, it makes sense.”
Chandler then makes a case for himself on why he should be chosen to fight on the White House card in 2026.
“I never pulled out of a fight. I never missed weight,” Chandler said. “The most important thing about this White House card whether I am a shoe in for it or not, when you’re building a card of this magnitude, it’s not necessarily even about putting on the best fight. It’s about putting on the best fights that are the most reliable. Which fighters and which matchups, which marquee matchups are going to happen on the White House lawn that have almost have a virtual certainty of actually happening. In this crazy sport, there are no guarantees, but I’m about as sure as a guarantee as you could be.
“If I can walk to the octagon, if I can physically make it to the octagon, I’m showing up. That octagon door is closing, and I’m putting on a show for the fans.”
Do you think Conor McGregor will fight in 2026? Seeing is certainly believing at this point, but anything is surely possible.