Michael
Chandler believes Conor
McGregor will not be the same fighter he once was on his return
to the Octagon this summer.
McGregor will return to action after a hiatus of almost three years
in a welterweight clash against “Iron” in the main event at
UFC 303 on June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“Notorious” last fought in a trilogy bout against Dustin
Poirier at
UFC 264 in July 2021, suffering a technical knockout loss due
to a leg break in the first round.
While the Irishman resumed training in early 2022, it wasn’t until
October 2023 that he returned to the UFC’s drug testing pool.
Although the former UFC double champ wanted to return at UFC
300, it wasn’t until UFC 303 that his return could be made
possible. Chandler believes the long inactivity has taken a toll on
McGregor’s timing, movement, and reflexes.
“What I need to work on for this fight is continue to be the best
version of myself,” Chandler said on The
Shawn Ryan Show. “Maybe a little bit more tactical, realizing
that I have earned this, realizing that I am the better fighter, I
am the tougher fighter and the guy who deserves it more. Whether
that be getting in his face, putting him up against the cage,
picking him up, putting him down, wilting his spirit a little bit
more, taking the wind out of his sails a little bit more. I don’t
need to be getting into a firefight with a guy who has got a bigger
rifle than me, right? I think I hit harder than he does.
“I think I would venture to say his time out of the cage has lent
itself to his timing not being what it used to be, his movement not
being what it used to be, his reflexes not being what they used to
be,” Chandler added. “His being out of the cage now for – it’ll be
three years by the time we fight. So, I’m just gonna, from the
first exchange, hit him with big punches, make him second guess
himself, keep my hands up a little bit more than I have in the
past, pick him up, put him down if I want to, choke him if I want
to, go out there and get the finish and just absolutely outclass
and dominate him. Because I deserve this and I’ve earned this.”
Chandler hasn’t competed since a submission loss against Poirier at
UFC
281 in November 2022. The former UFC title contender has since
been rallying for the McGregor booking, with the two even starring
as rival coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter 31” last summer. “Iron”
is 2-3 in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship with wins over Dan Hooker
and Tony
Ferguson.
