Conor McGregor’s representative has shared that efforts were made to schedule a comeback fight between McGregor and Michael Chandler. However, the UFC currently has no plans for this particular matchup.
McGregor is now slated to face Max Holloway in a five-round welterweight main event bout at UFC 329 on July 11th.
Michael Chandler, meanwhile, will compete on a special White House card on June 14th against Brazilian knockout artist Mauricio Ruffy.
McGregor’s Manager: Fight with Chandler Still Possible
In a discussion with MMA Junkie, Audie Attar, Conor McGregor’s manager, stated that McGregor felt Michael Chandler deserved the fight, especially given the circumstances surrounding its previous cancellation. Attar indicated that the UFC’s disinterest at the time was the primary obstacle, but expressed optimism about the fight’s future possibility.
“Conor genuinely wanted to make that happen for Michael Chandler. He believed Michael had earned it after going through the show, the training camp, the unfortunate injury, and the bout’s cancellation. Conor really, really desired it, and we exerted significant effort to make it a reality. At that moment, it wasn’t strategically viable for the UFC, but that doesn’t preclude it from happening down the line. Michael has a significant fight ahead of him at the White House, and we wish him success. It could still materialize.”
Attar further elaborated, “We championed the Chandler fight. That was our initial primary objective. Various other names emerged during discussions and negotiations. Regarding Max Holloway, we acknowledge we secured a bout with him, and he’s eager for a rematch. We know they previously fought at 145 pounds, and Max is ready and committed to delivering a strong performance. We felt it was the right pairing. Given Conor’s extended break from competition, fighting at 170 pounds made practical sense. Max was immediately willing and prepared to step up at that weight.”
McGregor and Chandler previously served as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 31. Their scheduled fight at UFC 303 in 2024 was ultimately called off when McGregor withdrew due to a toe injury.
“Iron” has since suffered two consecutive losses, while McGregor has been inactive for nearly five years. His return to the octagon is now set against “Blessed” in July.
Prior to the announcement of the White House fights, both Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler had frequently suggested they would face each other on the South Lawn on June 14th. However, UFC executives Dana White and Hunter Campbell had alternative plans.