Michael Chandler puts Conor McGregor rivalry “to bed” in bombshell post following Dana White’s comments: “Vastly overestimated your importance”
Seems like Michael Chandler has exhausted his patience waiting around for a potential fight against Conor McGregor. Chandler shared his response in the aftermath of UFC CEO Dana White confirming that McGregor will not return to action this year.
Chandler played the long game of perseverance in a bid to secure the blockbuster clash against 'The Notorious'. They served as rival coaches for The Ultimate Fighter 31 which started filming in February 2023.
While McGregor wasn't eligible to return to fight immediately after the conclusion of the feeder reality television series, a matchup was finally announced to headline the UFC 303 showcase which went down on June 29, 2024. However, McGregor was forced to pull out of the contest with a broken toe that he sustained in training.
With no confirmation on his return to action, White clarified that fight fans will have to wait longer for the Irishman to enter the fray. McGregor quickly responded to White in a since-deleted X post, stating:
"Ah Dana, December is the date! Bring the calendar year home with a winning event! Come on now, what’s this? I am off to altitude next month to prepare. DECEMBER! Tell Dana and UFC WE WANT DECEMBER! WE DESERVE DECEMBER!"
Check out the post below:
Bearing all the recent developments in mind, Chandler took to X to indicate that the game has outpaced McGregor's influence. He wrote:
"Ah conor, the sport will move on and thrive without you. Put to bed. Laid to rest. Soon a distant memory. You’ve vastly overestimated your importance inside of this game for almost a decade. Godspeed."
Check out Chandler's X post below:
Michael Chandler claims his legacy is "not hinged upon" a potential clash against Conor McGregor
Former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler was set to lock horns with Conor McGregor in a welterweight tilt at UFC 303. However, the Irishman pulled out of the fight due to a broken toe, forcing Chandler out of the pay-per-view showcase.
While Chandler remains optimistic about a fight against 'The Notorious', he has started to explore other options in potential fights against Max Holloway and Justin Gaethje. Speaking about the McGregor fight in a recent interview with Lucky Block, Chandler said:
"I am an optimist by default, so I do believe the Conor fight will happen, but right now we are in a period where things are being talked about. What date? Is it Conor? Is it pivoting to a different fight? Is it making the best decision for me and my family? I love the idea that Conor and I did 'The Ultimate Fighter,' we had a training camp, and we signed on the dotted line. But as much as I respect Conor, my legacy is not hinged upon this fight." [H/t: Yahoo Sports]