Michael Chandler says Conor McGregor is a 'purist at heart' as he identifies similarities amongst them
Michael Chandler has made it clear that he would love to welcome Conor McGregor back to the octagon in 2023.
Chandler recently spoke with ESPN's Brett Okamoto, where he explained his reasoning for why he believes "Mystic Mac" will accept the bout for his UFC return. He described some similarities they share and mentioned that the Irishman is still competitive despite his financial status:
"He's a purist at heart and I think he sees the way that I live my life, the way that I live this sport, the way that I train, the things that I stand for, the way that I really wear my heart on my sleeve. We got a different accent, but we're saying a lot of the same things - he may be a little braggadocious - but we're saying the same things in a different way, so I think he respects that."
"Iron" then added his reasoning for why he wants a bout against McGregor, even at 170lbs, rather than challenging another top-ranked lightweight:
"I want battlegrounds of epic proportions. I want the brightest lights, I want the biggest platforms...And what is bigger than fighting Conor McGregor? And at this point him coming back, what is bigger than Conor McGregor stepping into the octagon with gotta be the most electrfying guy in the UFC right now."
The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion has been as advertised since joining the UFC debut in 2021. He earned a post-fight bonus for either Fight of the Night or Performance of the Night in 4 of his 5 bouts inside the octagon.
Check out the full interview:
What weight will Conor McGregor's next fight be contested at?
Conor McGregor has been out of action recovering from the leg injury he sustained during his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier.
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"Mystic Mac" has looked considerably larger in recent photos, so it's safe to assume his UFC return will be contested at 170lbs. It will be interesting to see whether he has plans to remain at welterweight after he returns or if he will pursue bouts at lightweight once he gets in the mix of things.
There are plenty of appealing fights for the former two-division UFC champion. He has done a great job remaining relevant in fight discussions with many different fighters including Max Holloway, Michael Chandler, and Nate Diaz.
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