Michael Chandler loves the idea of fighting Conor McGregor down the road. Before they can face off however, the former Bellator champion is scheduled to fight Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title in the UFC 262 main event on May 15th. While, the Irishman is set to face Dustin Poirier in their rubber match in the UFC 264 main event on July 10th.
The McGregor Belt
Recently, McGregor has suggested that the UFC make a symbolic ‘McGregor belt’ for the Poirier trilogy, and Chandler told Helen Yee (as transcribed by BJPenn.com) that he loves the idea.
“I love it, man,” Chandler said. “It’s Conor being Conor. Listen, I mean you can say what you want about Conor, but the dude’s the biggest combat sports icon on the planet. Not just right now, but he has been for a while and he will be for the foreseeable future. I don’t think [the McGregor belt] is going to happen. I think it’s kind of a cool idea.”
Fighting Conor McGregor
The 34 year old believes he’s destined to cross paths with McGregor inside the Octagon sooner or later.
“I love the prospect of him beating Dustin Poirier and me putting my belt on the line in November or December, and him putting the Conor McGregor belt on the line in November or December,” Chandler said. “I’d love a Patek rare belt sitting on my collection. I want to share the Octagon with Conor McGregor sooner or later eventually before I retire, so we’ll see if it happens after I beat Charles Oliveira. How many fights it will take, we’ll see.”
‘Not Many Better Than McGregor’
Chandler also heaped praise on McGregor for being one of the few bright minds in the game, and picked the Dublin native to beat Poirier in the trilogy.
“I think Conor is ‘Notorious’ for making really great adjustments, to his game plan, to his approach to the game,” Chandler explained. “I think there’s not many more bright minds in the sport than Conor Mcgregor. He’s got some of the highest fight IQ in the lightweight division for sure and I think there’s just a couple of little tweaks that he has to make to his game that he goes out there and I think beats Poirier.”
Would you be interested in a potential fight between Michael Chandler and Conor McGregor?
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