Will Conor McGregor ever return to the Octagon? Perhaps no one has waited for an answer to that question more than Michael Chandler. ‘Iron’ has been patiently waiting for a chance to take on ‘The Notorious’ since their appearance on TUF 31 (The Ultimate Fighter). But a broken toe suffered by ‘The Notorious’ ended the dreams of a UFC 303 show-down between the pair.
Since then, Chandler has seemingly moved on as he took on Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 in 2024. Now, he’s gearing up to take on Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314. But when he was recently asked if he still believes McGregor will return, his answer was far from reassuring.
Conor McGregor’s training updates are not enough to sway Michael Chandler’s hopes for his return
During his appearance on ‘The Ariel Helwani’ show, the former Bellator lightweight champion confessed that he still considers himself Conor McGregor’s comeback opponent.
Reflecting on the long-drawn saga between the two, he confessed, “Conor’s always a part of it man. I mean, it’s going to be one of those deals where, you know… his road back to the UFC goes through me. It goes straight through Nashville, Tennessee, and Michael Chandler.”
But despite his confidence in their history, Chandler isn’t exactly counting on it. He pointed out that the fight should have already happened. Contracts were signed, and the stage was set. Yet, McGregor remained absent from competition. As such, Chandler simply stated, “So could be 2025, could be this summer, could be this fall, could be this winter, could be 2026, I don’t know.”
Conor McGregor, however, seems intent on keeping the hype alive. Recently, he took to Instagram stories to share pictures of him sparring in the cage, looking sharp, and talking his usual game.
“Can’t hit what ya can’t see, baby! For those who rise!” he captioned the image. And in classic McGregor fashion, he added another playful jab, “Can’t touch this da da da da.”
It’s a familiar pattern. A cryptic post. A flashy training clip. A reminder that he’s still around. But at this point, are fans even buying it?
While Chandler believes McGregor will eventually return, he’s no longer betting on it. Why? The UFC lightweight star revealed, “I think heart of hearts says that Conor is coming back at some point. But if I’m a betting man, if I’m using my brain, I wouldn’t put money on it.”
‘Iron’ has already spent years waiting, watching, and hoping for the fight to happen. Meanwhile, McGregor continues to tease his comeback without locking anything down. However, Chandler’s opponent for UFC 314 has already made it clear, that if he wins, he’s willing to take on the Irishman himself!
‘The Baddy’ is looking to sneak away with a “very tasty” McGregor bout after UFC 314
Paddy Pimblett has never been one to shy away from the spotlight. And now, ahead of his UFC 314 showdown with Michael Chandler, he’s already thinking one step ahead.
As the uncertainty around Conor McGregor’s return continues to build, the Liverpool native believes he might have an opening to take his career to the next level.
How? In a recent interview with ‘Round Eight Boxing’ he confessed, “Sounds very tasty. A lot of people have said this to me already, ‘Beat Chandler, take the McGregor fight.’ Obviously, it’s the biggest fight in the sport, the biggest fight we’ve ever seen.”
But does Pimblett have what it takes? While he remains undefeated in the UFC, critics argue he hasn’t faced top-tier competition yet. Chandler, a battle-tested veteran, is by far his toughest challenge so far. If Pimblett wins, he’ll silence a lot of doubters and could be in line to make demands for a clash against ‘The Notorious’.
In the end, Conor McGregor’s return remains as elusive as ever. Chandler, once the clear frontrunner for the comeback fight, now sounds more like a man hedging his bets. And Pimblett? He sees an opportunity and isn’t shy about grabbing it.
Will ‘The Notorious’ ever make his long-awaited return, or is he content keeping fans and the MMA world on the hook, one Instagram post at a time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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