LAS VEGAS – Dana White said Tuesday Michael Chandler will be Conor McGregor’s return opponent.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) and Chandler (23-8 MMA, 18-5 UFC) recently wrapped up Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which continues to air Tuesdays on ESPN until Aug. 15. The pair are expected to fight at some point after the airing of the show.
With McGregor yet to re-enter the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing pool, questions continue to arise on his return. White however, is positive that “The Notorious'” comeback is imminent.
“I talked to Conor, it was either yesterday or the day before, and yeah, he’s ready to fight,” White said at the UFC Apex. “I said, ‘Listen, get in shape and let’s figure this out.'”
McGregor alluded that the UFC doesn’t even want him to fight Chandler, and has tried to lure “BMF” champion Justin Gaethje into a fight. But White says it’s all just McGregor’s mind games.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, he’s fighting Chandler,” White said. “Conor likes to f*ck with everybody – especially his opponent, or possible opponents.”
Despite McGregor’s antics, Chandler never seemed fazed that their fight was in jeopardy.
“Conor’s going to get his little Twitter fingers going on the weekends every single time there’s a fight and insert himself into the conversation, but I’m not really that worried about it,” Chandler said on ESPN’s “After TUF.” “I believe the fight is happening. The fight makes too much sense for it not to happen.”
