Michael Chandler unfazed by Conor McGregor’s push for middleweight fight،
Although Michael Chandler's fight against Conor McGregor in June isn't official, that won't stop Chandler from entering fight camp as soon as this month.
Chandler (23-8) made headlines earlier this year, as McGregor (22-6) took to social media last weekend to declare they would fight on June 29 at Las Vegas. The UFC has not commented publicly on that date, but on Thursday, Chandler told ESPN he was already beginning preparations.
“We all know it's never officially 100% confirmed until we step into the Octagon, but obviously my team has been in contact with the UFC,” Chandler said. “June 29 is what I'm preparing for. I'm leaving my family [at home in Nashville] going to Florida to enter the fight camp – the fight camp that has been looming for a year now. »
There was a long preparation before the McGregor vs. Chandler match. The two lightweights trained against each other on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series early last year, but the UFC was never able to announce that the fight was actually happening.
McGregor has been essentially recovering for 2 1/2 years from a broken leg suffered against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Complicating matters is his removal from the USADA mandatory drug testing pool due to the lengthy layoff. McGregor re-entered the pool in October, but the UFC decided to end its relationship with USADA at the end of 2023 and launched a new drug testing program in 2024.
The Irish superstar has often ignored Chandler over the past year, but apparently enjoyed keeping him waiting. In his message earlier this week, he also added a surprise caveat, telling Chandler that the fight would be contested at 185 pounds, which is 30 pounds higher than the 155-pound lightweight division Chandler has fought in since 2011 .
Chandler, 37, said he doesn't care what weight they fight at and thinks McGregor is only offering 185 pounds to top Chandler's suggestion of fighting at 170.
“In his mind, he can't fight at 170 [pounds], because I called him 170,” Chandler said. “He must have said 185. … He always wants to establish dominance, make people think I'm inferior to him, and that's fine . I'll take this all day, because I'm confident in myself and I don't have an ego.
“I have no problem with what people say. I have no problem with people's opinions. Everyone has an opinion, and who cares? … I'll give him that 'back seat' all the time, and if he thinks he is fighting an inferior man, so be it. He will know on June 29th.
During McGregor's rise to the two-weight title in 2016, he was known for his effective mental combat against opponents – but Chandler says that mystique has been shattered in recent years. Maybe McGregor is trying to regain that advantage by making Chandler wait and dictating the weight of the fight, but Chandler is convinced that it's all for naught.
“Look at Dustin Poirier, a mentally tough man. Look at Nate Diaz, a mentally tough man. These guys didn't care about that stuff because once the bell rings, it's all over and we're going.” , Chandler said. . “Conor's skills, I don't think they're like they used to be. I don't think Conor is as scary as he was back then.”
