5 reasons why Conor McGregor should face Michael Chandler in his return fight
This weekend at UFC 274, Michael Chandler picked up one of the biggest wins of his career when he knocked out former interim lightweight champ Tony Ferguson. ‘Iron Mike’ then called out Irish superstar Conor McGregor for a fight.
Should Conor McGregor return to the UFC to take on Michael Chandler in a lightweight bout, or would this be a bad idea for him?
There are arguments either way for this one, but overall, it seems like a fight between Chandler and McGregor would make logical sense from all sides, including for ‘The Notorious’.
Here are five reasons why Conor McGregor’s return bout should be against Michael Chandler.
#5. Michael Chandler might actually be a beatable opponent for Conor McGregor
For Conor McGregor to remain relevant in the UFC going forward, despite his clear star status, there’s an argument that he needs to win his next bout. After all, ‘The Notorious’ made his name by defeating every man he faced – and now he hasn’t won a fight since January 2020.
In the eyes of many fans, McGregor’s two losses to Dustin Poirier in 2021 signaled one thing – that the Irishman is finished as a top-level fighter. Of course, ‘The Notorious’ would like nothing better than to prove those doubters wrong.
On the face of it, Michael Chandler would represent a hugely dangerous foe for McGregor. Not only does ‘Iron Mike’ possess a top-class wrestling game, he also hits like a mack truck, as Dan Hooker and Tony Ferguson can attest to.
However, historically speaking, Chandler is the kind of opponent that McGregor once ate for breakfast. Standing at 5’8” and holding a 71” reach, ‘Iron Mike’ would be at a disadvantage against McGregor in terms of range. Therefore, if the Irishman could produce his best form, we could see a similar fight to his bouts with Eddie Alvarez and Chad Mendes.
Poirier 💥
Alvarez 🙏
Aldo ☠️
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Of course, for McGregor to produce that kind of showing, he’d have to get back to what brought him to the top of the table, a game based around movement and timing more than punching power. If he can do that, though, Chandler is a beatable opponent, making this potential bout well worth it.