Michael Chandler still wants a fight against Conor McGregor whose UFC's return now looks set to be delayed until early next year.
The Notorious is in the final stages of recovering from a broken tibia he suffered in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier last July. The former two-weight champion is now able to use his compromised leg comfortably in training, reports The Mirror.
There were hopes that McGregor could have returned this summer or late autumn, but it seems likely he will delay his return until next year. UFC boss Dana White likes the idea of McGregor Chandler and 'Iron Mike' is relishing the chance of fighting the sport's biggest star.
“I just want the biggest stage possible against the biggest competitor that the sport has ever seen,” Chandler told TMZ Sports. “We may never see another talent, another combat sports icon like Conor McGregor in, not just until I retire, we’re talking for the next couple of decades.
"Obviously, there’s a lot of big fights that Conor could take, a lot of big names, but I would love to be the other guy on the other side of the octagon when that cage door closes, and then go out there and make something special.”
Chandler produced a knockout of the year contender in his last fight against Tony Ferguson at UFC 274 in May, stopping the former interim champion with a brutal front kick in the second round. After the win, a fired-up Chandler used his post-fight interview to call-out McGregor.
McGregor responded to the call-out by writing: "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."
“I want him at his biggest, his baddest, his most dangerous. Looking at him, he’s looking big, he’s looking beefy, he’s looking strong, he’s looking as fast as he always is and at 180-something pounds. Let’s do it at 170. If not, I can always make 155," Chandler added.
McGregor bulked up to 190lb during his recovery after mostly being limited to weight training. 'Notorious' has dismissed a comeback at lightweight after being called out by Charles Oliviera, stating he doesn't want to put himself through the hefty weight cut after packing on a lot of muscle.
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