Patience is a virtue, but Chandler has unwillingly become one of the most virtuous men in UFC. Does he finally know when his next fight will be announced?
Michael Chandler has waited nearly two years for Conor McGregor to return and compete, and he’s nowhere closer to fighting “The Notorious” than he was in Nov. 2022, when he lost to Dustin Poirier in his last fight (watch highlights).
According to “Iron Mike,” the 670 days (and counting) of waiting for McGregor hasn’t been tough, but the 1-3 skid he entered it on was. Chandler made his UFC debut in 2021, flattening Dan Hooker with a first round knockout, establishing himself as a contender in the division. But, he followed that up with losses to Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje and Poirier (with a “Knockout of the Year” candidate win over Tony Ferguson sandwiched in).
“The losing streak I was on was definitely harder than waiting for Conor McGregor because as of right now, it doesn’t even feel like I lost my last fight. It’s been that long ago and seems that far away,” Chandler told Action Network in a new interview. “But, having three losses in that 688 day period, it was tough. Because coming from a wrestling background, I’d get the opportunity, if I lost on a Wednesday, to get back in the win column on a Saturday.
“But, those months and years that went by without getting your hand raised?” he added. “It was very, very tough.”
Chandler’s 1-3 skid was actually over 546 days, but who’s really counting that. You better believe Chandler is painfully aware of the day count as he awaits an announcement for the McGregor fight, though.
“I looked it up the other day, and I thought, ‘Man, how crazy would it be if this fight gets booked right around that 688-day mark?’” he said. “Because someday I’m gonna be speaking on a stage talking about the 688 day losing streak that I had, and then also I’ll be telling the story of being patient for 600 and something days, right?
“And for a guy who fights as often as I want to fight and have fought in my career, obviously these times are tough,” he added. “But, it needs to be said, patience is said to be one of the greatest qualities that a human being can have. Patience is a virtue. Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit in the Bible. Patience is what men and women have built their lives upon.
“Yes, action, and moving forward with a halfway decent plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed a year from now — General George Patton said that — all of those things are true. But, patience is one of the most undervalued and under-appreciated and most important aspects of the human spirit.
“Yet when I am exercising this people are critical, so it’s just been a very interesting scenario,” he concluded. “And that’s why I’ve realized that I’m running my own race. And I’m not worried about what other people are saying, and don’t worry. My feet will hit that UFC canvas very soon.”
We’d be less worried if Chandler hadn’t been saying that for 500+ days now. But, we were curious as to where Chandler was getting this 688 number from since it’s only been 670 days since his last fight, and the losing streak wasn’t near 688, either.
And for what it’s worth, 688 is the number of days between Chandler’s loss to Poirier on Nov. 12th, 2022, and UFC Paris on Sept. 28, 2024.
Announcement incoming?
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