There was no shortage of people who, after UFC 329, accused Conor McGregor of being unprepared or even lacking the will to fight. Michael Chandler, however, offered a completely different assessment of the situation. The American strongly defended the former two-time UFC champion, and there is no doubt that the Irishman did everything he could to return to the Octagon.
McGregor’s return ended in disaster. After a five-year hiatus, “The Notorious” lasted only a few dozen seconds in his fight against Max Holloway. Right at the start of the bout, he suffered a serious injury to his right knee after attempting a spectacular spinning kick. Everything indicates that the Irishman is facing surgery and a long hiatus from competition.
“There’s a lot to say about him, but not that”
Michael Chandler knows all the inside details of McGregor’s return. He was supposed to face the Irishman at UFC 303. However, the fight was canceled after McGregor suffered a toe injury during the final stages of his preparation.
Following the events at UFC 329, many comments appeared on social media suggesting that the former UFC champion had stepped into the octagon solely for the money. Chandler firmly rejected those claims.
– I’d be the most surprised person in the world if Conor had gone there just for the paycheck. He walked into the cage, limping, with the attitude: “I don’t care,” gave you a minute of fighting, shaved his head into a mohawk, went through the presentation, and then backed out after a while. There’s one thing you definitely can’t say about him—he’s not a man who gives up. Nor is he a cheat.
According to the American, not everything can be planned in combat sports, and serious injuries can happen when you least expect them.
– The body is unpredictable, just like the fight itself. A lot of people asked me why Conor went in with that kick right away. But he’s been fighting that way for years. I’m just as disappointed as everyone else. The atmosphere at T-Mobile Arena was incredible. And yet I’m the one who should be the most disappointed. He finally returned to the Octagon, and I believe he really wanted to fight me. I believe he tried to make this fight happen, and that’s exactly how the negotiations went. Fate decided otherwise, though. I also think that after pulling out of our fight in 2024, he wanted to keep his word and make the bout happen—the one with both our names on it.
In closing, Chandler argued that fans shouldn’t write off the Irishman just yet.
– I know everyone is disappointed, but stay tuned to see what happens next. This isn’t the last time you’ll see Conor. I’m curious to see how his story unfolds.
Although Chandler still hasn’t ruled out the possibility of facing McGregor in the Octagon someday, such a scenario currently seems unlikely. The American hasn’t won a fight since UFC 274, and in his most recent bout, he was defeated by Mauricio Ruff at UFC Freedom 250.
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