After waiting for months for a Conor McGregor fight that still hasn’t materialised, it seems UFC lightweight star Michael Chandler is finally starting to turn his attention elsewhere.
Chandler coached opposite McGregor on The Ultimate Fighter, with the intention being for the pair to face off inside the Octagon shortly after. That was hoped to be at UFC 303, but after McGregor sustained a toe injury in the lead-up to the fight, those plans were scrapped, and there has been no official word on a fresh date for the pair.
While McGregor is working his way back to the Octagon following the broken leg he suffered in his trilogy fight loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, Chandler’s layoff has taken place while he has been completely fit and able to fight.
And, with that hiatus now stretching to 20 months, Chandler is starting to scope out alternative options, and has revealed his interest in potentially welcoming Nate Diaz back to the Octagon at UFC 306 at Sphere on September 14.
In a reply to a poster on X saying that McGregor should turn his attention to Diaz after he “retires” Chandler, the former Bellator lightweight champion responded, “Sit down, Ron… better idea – me and @NateDiaz209 fight like real men, while Conor sits on a yacht and watches on PPV in his slippers. #ufcnoche #riyadhseason”
Sit down, Ron… better idea – me and @NateDiaz209 fight like real men, while Conor sits on a yacht and watches on PPV in his slippers. #ufcnoche #riyadhseason https://t.co/VKR7MFAdg2
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 9, 2024
Diaz recently stated his interest in returning to the UFC following his majority decision victory over former UFC BMF champion Jorge Masvidal in their boxing bout in Anaheim last weekend.
Talk of a trilogy bout with McGregor has always been bubbling away in the background, and Diaz’s coach Cesar Gracie this week called for the matchup to be made.
But it looks like Diaz may have multiple options, with Chandler seemingly throwing his hat in the ring to face the Stockton native later this year.
Chandler also responded to some fan questions, and took a shot at McGregor with one answer.
When asked what he strategy would be against someone like McGregor, Chandler replied “Instill fear…let him pull out of the fight and embarrass himself, be known as the guy who retired McGregor without ever throwing a punch…”
Instill fear…let him pull out of the fight and embarrass himself, be known as the guy who retired McGregor without ever throwing a punch…. https://t.co/VgsUMcuCod
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) July 9, 2024
Chandler is clearly looking to keep his options open, but a matchup with McGregor would almost certainly still be his first choice. When a fan tweeted him to suggest that he’d face off with the Irishman at UFC 306, Chandler cryptically responded with one word: “Loading…”