Conor McGregor is open to fighting Michael Chandler after the former title challenger called out the Irishman following his stunning win over Tony Ferguson.
Chandler knocked out Ferguson in the second round of their lightweight clash at UFC 274 on Saturday night and immediately called for a title shot against either Charles Oliveira or Justin Gaethje. He also suggested a welterweight clash with McGregor, should the UFC top brass look elsewhere.
"I'm ready to come back," he added. "The main event; there is not one MMA fan who doesn't want to see me rematch you Charles or rematch you Justin Gaethje. If the UFC have a momentary lapse and give the title shot to someone else, I've got one dude on my mind. Conor McGregor, I am the most entertaining lightweight on the planet. I want you at your baddest and I want you at your best; you and me at 170lb."
And McGregor quickly took to social media to respond. I’d have a nice knock off this guy, no doubt about it," he said. "A firework spectacle. I like the 170 shout also. Tipped him over. I’m definitely game to fight this guy at some stage in my career. I see it happening after tonight. Congrats on a solid win Michael and another barnstormer."
Oliveira later choked out Gaethje in the opening round of the main event to ensure the lightweight title will remain vacant after Oliveira failed to make weight on Friday. Now on an 11-fight winning streak, the 32-year-old will challenge for the belt later this year with Islam Makhachev among his possible opponents.
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McGregor is currently completing his recovery from the broken leg he suffered in his third fight with Dustin Poirier last summer. The former two-weight world champion has won just one of his last four fights, a 40-second demolition of Donald Cerrone in 2020.
McGregor resumed boxing sparring last month but has yet to return to full-contact training and will not return to action before August. He has previously called out welterweight champion Kamaru Usman after claiming he will not return to 155lb.
Usman is due to defend his belt against Birmingham's Leon Edwards but the fight has yet to be announced and was absent from the UFC 276 card to be held on July 2 in Las Vegas. Instead, Israel Adesanya will defend his middleweight belt against Jarod Cannonier in the main event.