Michael Chandler’s dream of fighting Conor McGregor only seems to be slipping further and further out of reach.
After UFC 303 fell apart thanks to McGregor’s broken toe injury, Chandler has remained patient while tossing out alternatives to the would-be match up. The former three-time Bellator Lightweight champion likes the idea of collecting another title sooner rather than later. However, nothing is too logical at the moment.
If any belt in UFC defies logic, it’s the Baddest Motherf*cker (BMF) title currently held by Max Holloway. “Blessed” captured the platinum crown at UFC 300 when he knocked out Justin Gaetje in round five this past April 2024 (watch highlights). Holloway will next try and reclaim the Featherweight title when he challenges Ilia Topuria at UFC 308 on Oct. 26, 2024. Should Holloway come up short, Chandler likes the idea of that leading to him challenging for the BMF crown.
“I’ve got Max beating Topuria because you never bet against Max ever unless I were to fight him,” Chandler told Lucky Block. “I hope Max overwhelms him and keeps that distance and keeps throwing punches in bunches and lands more punches. That’s the way that I would see it go. But, man, Topuria is the real deal. If Max did go ahead and lose, then me and Max could fight for the BMF belt. Who wouldn’t want to see just sheer violence? Me vs. Max for the BMF title.”
Whoever Chandler fights next will be his first time in action since a third round rear-naked choke loss to Dustin Poirier in November 2022 (watch highlights).