Conor McGregor's old UFC rival Urijah Faber has backed him to beat Michael Chandler in their upcoming fight.
McGregor, 34, will return to the octagon after a two-year absence when he faces Chandler after recently coaching against him on The Ultimate Fighter. No date or venue has yet been announced for the fight, but UFC boss Dana White hinted it will either take place at UFC 295 in November or UFC 296 in December.
Faber coached against McGregor on season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter back in 2015, but the featherweight duo never fought against each other as 'Notorious' went on to beat Jose Aldo in 13-seconds to win the 145lb title. Faber and McGregor went on to become friends after coaching on the reality TV show and the American has now explained why he predicts his old rival will beat Chandler.
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“Traditionally in the past, old-school MMA, I would have said the high-level wrestler is always going to win, but I feel Conor has closed those gaps a lot," Faber told ESPN. "I think Chandler takes a lot of big risks and likes to fight wild and aggressive and I’ve seen many times where Conor’s power is just too much and his precision’s too much. I think it’s going to be, in a five round fight, leaning toward McGregor.”
McGregor hasn't won a fight in over three years having lost back-to-back contests against bitter rival Dustin Poirier in 2021. Despite the feud between McGregor and Poirier, 'The Diamond' thinks his rival will get the better of Chandler in their upcoming fight. Poirier, who tapped out Chandler last November, thinks McGregor can win by stoppage in two rounds.
"I think that if Conor comes back anything like he was with his timing and rhythm, with the injury that he had and this long off a layoff and we are not getting any younger, either. If he comes back similar to who he was before he left, I think he stops Michael Chandler," he said on The MMA Hour.
"If Conor is who he was before the injury and stuff, I think two rounds, I think the fight is over in two rounds. If anybody can, I think it would be him if he's 100 per cent dedicated, focused and put the blinders on so he can go at this with all of himself I think he can, but we'll see and that's what makes it so interesting."
