Michael Chandler’s Conor McGregor Saga: The Ultimate MMA Waiting Game That Nobody’s Winning
The image tells it all: Michael Chandler, the perpetually ready warrior, sitting alone with his thoughts. How many times can one fighter be left at the altar? If you’ve been following MMA’s most frustrating non-matchup of 2023-2024, you already know the answer is “too many.”
Chandler has been strung along by the sport’s biggest star for what feels like an eternity, and frankly, it’s getting painful to watch. Let’s break down this mess.
The Never-Ending McGregor Dance
Remember when Chandler vs. McGregor seemed like a done deal? If you don’t, that’s fine – neither does anyone else. What we do remember is Chandler being announced as McGregor’s comeback opponent, coaching against him on The Ultimate Fighter, and then… nothing.
I’ve seen relationships with commitment issues move faster than this fight booking.
While the UFC has announced and rescheduled this matchup multiple times, Chandler has been sitting on the sidelines since November 2022. That’s right – the man hasn’t competed in nearly two years while waiting for McGregor to grace the octagon with his presence.
The Financial Hostage Situation
Let’s be real here: Chandler’s waiting because the McGregor payday would be life-changing. We’re talking generational wealth versus a regular paycheck. But at what point does opportunity cost become too high?
The former Bellator champion is 37 years old. In fighter years, that’s approaching senior citizen status. Every month waiting for McGregor is prime fighting time wasted – time that Chandler will never get back.
| Fight Status Updates | Timeline | Result |
|---|---|---|
| TUF Coaching Announcement | February 2023 | No fight date set |
| UFC 285 Confrontation | March 2023 | More promises |
| UFC 303 Announcement | April 2024 | McGregor withdrawal |
| Current Status | July 2024 | Still waiting |
When Hope Becomes Delusion
There’s something almost tragic about Chandler’s unwavering belief that the McGregor fight will eventually happen. The man keeps himself in fighting shape year-round, answers every interview question with optimism, and refuses to take another booking.
I admire loyalty, but this is starting to feel like watching someone wait for a text back from a date who’s already at another restaurant.
Dana White keeps insisting the fight will happen “eventually,” but in MMA, “eventually” often means “never.” Just ask Tony Ferguson about his Khabib fight.
The Opportunity Cost
While Chandler waits, the lightweight division has undergone a complete transformation:
- Islam Makhachev has established his reign
- Dustin Poirier fought for (and lost) another title shot
- Charles Oliveira has had multiple high-profile fights
- Arman Tsarukyan has emerged as a top contender
The carousel keeps spinning, and Chandler’s just watching from the sidelines, betting everything on red (or in this case, Irish green).
What Should Chandler Do Next?
If I were in Chandler’s corner, I’d be pushing for a Plan B. The McGregor fight might happen someday, but “Iron” Mike needs to get back in the cage regardless. A matchup with Justin Gaethje or Beneil Dariush would make sense – entertaining fights that could keep him in the title picture.
At some point, you have to recognize when you’re being strung along. McGregor is busy promoting his movie, his whiskey, and basically everything except an actual fight. The man has fought exactly once since 2020 (a loss to Poirier where he broke his leg).
How many more times will Chandler allow himself to be fooled? As the saying goes: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” We’ve lost count of how many times Chandler’s been fooled at this point.
The Fan Perspective
I’ve talked to countless MMA fans about this situation, and the consensus is clear: everyone feels bad for Chandler. Even McGregor supporters acknowledge that stringing along an opponent for this long is unprofessional at best.
Will the fight eventually happen? Maybe. Would it be exciting? Absolutely. Is it worth sacrificing two years of Chandler’s career? I don’t think so.
The Bottom Line
Michael Chandler is one of the most exciting fighters in UFC history. Every single one of his UFC bouts has been must-see TV. The fact that he’s been sidelined during his prime years waiting for a payday that keeps moving like a mirage in the desert is nothing short of tragic.
For his sake, I hope he either gets the McGregor fight announced with a firm date and serious consequences for withdrawal, or he moves on to something more concrete. The waiting game has gone on long enough.
What do you think? Should Chandler keep waiting or move on? Let me know in the comments.
Source: Image from Vox Media – https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F_VezaI4Be1KveDYAtTBegdD6Zo=/0x0:5022×2629/fit-in/1200×630/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26015083/1515728088.jpg