Written by Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler | Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler might not be dead just yet.
The road to that matchup has seen numerous bumps over the course of the past two years, with the rivals serving as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 32 and then being scheduled for UFC 303 this past June, only to see their fight fall through when McGregor withdrew due to injury.
Chandler has since been booked for a rematch with Charles Oliveira, which takes place at UFC 309 on Nov. 16. As for McGregor, he and UFC CEO Dana White finally seem to be in agreement that “The Notorious” won’t be seen in the octagon again until next year.
“It will be 2025,” McGregor said in an interview with DAZN during the Joshua vs. Dubois broadcast. “We’ll see. My opponent that I had scheduled, Chandler, has gotten matched. It is what it is. I just take it on board and just rock on. My job is just to go to the gym, be in the gym, be in shape, and one thing is for sure, whenever it is and wherever it is, I’ll be 100 percent ready. That’s all I can focus on right now.”
With Chandler occupied for the moment, it appears that McGregor has to set his sights on a new opponent. While he’s keeping his options open, he wants it to be known that Chandler is not out of the picture.
“Who knows nowadays?” McGregor said. “It doesn’t matter, it does not matter. Just as long as I can get back, whoever. I’d like it to be Chandler. I’d like to get that squared away, so I wish him well against Oliveira, but let’s see how it goes.”
McGregor, 36, has spoken openly about having only two fights left on his UFC contract, and once those bouts are completed he’ll be free to pursue any other combat sports interests that he wants. In addition to being a member of the UFC roster, McGregor also currently serves as a part owner of BKFC, a bare-knuckle boxing promotion he has expressed interest in competing for as well.
All he can say for sure is that he would like to conclude his time with the UFC in 2025. After that, it’s anybody’s guess as to what MMA’s biggest draw will do next.
“I must,” McGregor said. “It’s the promised land, so we’ll see. I don’t even know. No one in the space knows. I’m the highest-generating fighter on planet Earth right now in today’s space and what happens afterwards, as I’m a free agent, I’m not so sure.”