Michael Chandler didn’t signal as much as battle Conor McGregor just for the eye and the paycheck he’ll obtain for arguably essentially the most coveted matchup in fight sports activities.
As good as it could really feel to face underneath the brightest highlight in opposition to the most important star in UFC historical past, Chandler doesn’t need his résumé to simply learn that he fought McGregor, however relatively that he beat the ex-lightweight and featherweight champion. He additionally acknowledges that with a 2-3 résumé since becoming a member of the UFC roster and McGregor sporting a 1-3 report in his final 4 fights, that each males can sick afford one other loss in the event that they hope to get again within the hunt for a title shot any time within the close to future.
“I do suppose it’s a must-win for each of us,” Chandler informed MMA Combating. “I must proceed to stamp my title as top-of-the-line lightweights on the earth. Sure, I’m 2-3 combating the perfect guys on the earth, within the weight class. I got here in, no one’s had a stronger power of schedule immediately once they got here into the UFC than I’ve, and that’s what I requested for. That’s what I needed. That’s what I consider Conor noticed in me. He wants an enormous dance accomplice to have the most important battle attainable, the most important stage attainable. It is a must-win for each of us.
“I’ve to go on the market and beat Conor to proceed to legitimize myself as a man who ought to be within the UFC Corridor of Fame, as a man who can nonetheless go and battle for the UFC title in 2024. I’m the man who needs to be on the most important, brightest stage and carry out to the perfect of my means. That’s what I’ve to do.”
On the subject of McGregor, it may very well be argued that yet another loss can be devastating to his profession, particularly after lacking the previous three years as a consequence of a damaged leg suffered in his most up-to-date setback in opposition to Dustin Poirier.
That will ratchet up the strain on most fighters, however Chandler doesn’t essentially see this as do-or-die for McGregor, whilst he declares this as a state of affairs the place they each positively want a win.
In his opinion, Chandler believes McGregor may have already rode off into the sundown with more cash than he may spend in lifetime, however there’s one thing deeper that retains bringing the Irish celebrity again to the cage repeatedly.
“Ever since he fought Floyd [Mayweather], made eight figures, sells his whiskey firm for 9 figures or no matter it’s, the man doesn’t must battle,” Chandler stated. “He fights as a result of he’s a pure born competitor and he loves this. He loves the excessive stakes, excessive demanding strain eventualities that he throws himself into ,and each single a type of fights are huge.
“I feel it’s a must-win for Conor as a result of I do suppose you may’t string collectively that many losses, however like I stated, losses don’t outline your profession whenever you’re combating the perfect guys on the earth. We’re all in these fights each single time, but it surely’s a must-win for Conor, it’s a must-win for me, and it’s a must-see pay-per-view.”
Chandler does credit score McGregor for taking this problem when he may have primarily pointed his finger at anyone on the UFC roster and made his personal battle.
That’s the form of energy solely a star of that caliber enjoys, however McGergor nonetheless sought out an opponent like Chandler, who’s well-known for inflicting severe injury on everybody he fights — even those that could maintain a win over him.
“The truth that Conor is taking this battle in opposition to me, a really harmful opponent, a man that doesn’t match up that nicely in opposition to him in lots of people’s eyes, he desires to battle me,” Chandler stated. “He’s the man who stated sure to combating me. That proper there may be indicative of a man who simply is a competitor. The man who desires to be thrown into the deep waters. The man who desires to step into the lion’s den.
“He may have taken a ‘tune-up’ battle, as we name it on this trade. There are a whole lot of opponents who match up lots higher than me for him, but he’s going to battle me, one of the vital harmful guys within the division.”
Proper now, Chandler is watching himself coach reverse McGregor throughout The Final Fighter 31 whereas anxiously awaiting a date and placement for his or her battle. Chandler is staying prepared and he’s assured that he’ll get the perfect out of McGregor once they lastly conflict.
“Finally a motivated Conor is what we’re going to see, I consider,” Chandler stated. “I’m anticipating the perfect Conor we’ve ever seen, as a result of [this is] going to deliver it out of him.”
