Michael Chandler hopes to fight Conor McGregor in July 2023 after oddsmakers tipped him as the most likely candidate for the latter’s comeback fight.
‘Iron Mike’ has been vocal about fighting ‘The Notorious for the better part of the last two years, revealing to MMA Junkie that things are finally moving in the right direction for the proposed matchup.
He didn’t reveal whether official talks were underway but is hopeful the fight will come together by July, possibly in Las Vegas.
“People think it’s going to be the fastest-paced, craziest first round of all-time,” Chandler said of a possible fight with McGregor. “I definitely think it will be [Conor McGregor]. The way that Conor McGregor starts fights, the way I start fights – it’s a car crash in the middle of the Octagon.”
“Hopefully at T-Mobile Arena here in Vegas in July,” he added. “It’s going to be huge, it’s going to be awesome and I believe it’s going to happen. Things are moving in the right direction.”
McGregor is still rehabilitating his broken leg but is expected to return to competition after re-entering USADA’s pool and completing six months of mandatory drug testing. He was recently removed from the UFC rankings due to inactivity, having been sidelined for the entire year.
Chandler last fought at UFC 281 where Dustin Poirier submitted him in the third round of their Fight of the Night with a rear-naked choke. He is currently #5 in the UFC lightweight rankings, considered by many to be one of the most exciting fighters in the division.
If he fights the same way he did against Dustin, Conor is gonna tko him. He fought like an absolute idiot. I can’t remember a fighter as highly skilled and talented as chandler is winging and missing as many haymakers in a row as he did in that fight. His fight IQ has dipped tremendously. And he’s getting older so the fast reaction time that has saved him when he was younger isn’t there to bail him out when he makes mistakes.
If he sticks to takedowns and GNP then he should be fine. His gas tank is way better than Conor. If it goes past a round and a half, chandler should win unless it’s some kind of fuckery. I think chandler blows thru Nathan Diaz of any era. Conor struggled with him mightily. And he got KOd and broke his leg in his last two fights. Drinking and partying might be tolling on his body and bones.
Ferguson wouldve been a better fight to get Conor a win. But I guess Chandler proved he was willing to fight stupid and lose in his last fight so he gets it.
Dayum The Fight Doctor !
He was recently removed from the UFC rankings due to inactivity, having been sidelined for the entire year.
That’s how it should be but Jones has been out for damn near 3 years and is still ranked so there’s zero consistency 
I think we do. It will be very entertaining
