Tag: UFC 302

Former two-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor has hit out at incoming foe, Michael Chandler ahead of their expected June tangle during International Fight Week – claiming that lifting titles inside the Octagon is far greater the experience than lifting weights outside of it.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the promotion, struck gold in both divisions back in 2015 and then 2016, turning in knockout victories over both Jose Aldo, and Eddie Alvarez, respectively.

As for Chandler, the former three-time Bellator MMA lightweight champion, failed in his sole bid so far to land lightweight gold since his 2021 debut in the Dana White-led promotion, competing for vacant spoils in the following year.

And despite a massive opening round against Brazilian favorite, Charles Oliveira, Chandler was stopped with a huge rallying KO in the early goings of the second round in the vacant lightweight title affair.

Conor McGregor mocks Michael Chandler’s Octagon tenure

Revealing on New Year’s Eve how he is set to fight Chandler on June 29. during International Fight Week in a much-anticipated return to the UFC, McGregor has since poked fun at Chandler’s stature – all while claiming that championship belts lofted inside the Octagon are worth more than weight plates lifted overhead.

“I can bench press ten (Michael) Chandlers,” Conor McGregor posted on his official X account tonight. 

I can bench press ten chandlers.

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 16, 2024

“Lifting belts > Lifting weights,” Conor McGregor posted.

Lifting belts > Lifting weights

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 16, 2024

Without a victory since 2020, McGregor’s most recent win came at the welterweight limit against former title challenger and Hall of Fame inductee, Donald Cerrone, stopping the veteran with a blistering 40-second kncokout win.

And ahead of his proposed June fight with chandler, the Missouri veteran has warned McGregor that he plans to “break” his jaw and leave him career-less following their summer showdown. 

“It’s going to be a big car, it’s going to be fun, and I finish Conor (McGregor) within the first two rounds and after that probably end his career,” Michael Chandler said. “There’s just to much more than what people thing about on the surface level. I want battlegrounds of epic proportions, I want to stand in the cage with that man, I want to break that man’s will, I want to break his jaw.

Who wins in a June grudge match: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?

Former lightweight title challenger, Michael Chandler has predicted a stoppage win over incoming foe and former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor within just two rounds, as the pair gear-up for a massive June showdown – potentially at UFC 302 during International Fight Week.

Chandler, a former undisputed lightweight title challenger and current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured at UFC 281 back in November 2022, suffering an eventual third round rear-naked choke loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier. 

As for McGregor, the former undisputed lightweight champion and featherweight titleholder, has been sidelined since he fractured his left tibia and fibula in an opening round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to the aforenoted, Poirier at UFC 264.

And confirming at the turn of this year how he’s planning a June 29. return at UFC 302 in the summer, McGregor claimed he would be fighting Chandler in his return to the Octagon – in a middleweight divisional bow for the pair. 

Michael Chandler predicts KO win over rival, Conor McGregor

Receptive to a clash at the middleweight limit, Chandler claims if he actually stands opposite McGregor on June 29. – he’ll finish the Dubliner inside just 10 minutes.

“It’s going to be a big car, it’s going to be fun, and I finish Conor (McGregor) within the first two rounds and after that probably end his career,” Michael Chandler said on his official YouTube channel. “There’s just to much more than what people thing about on the surface level. I want battlegrounds of epic proportions, I want to stand in the cage with that man, I want to break that man’s will, I want to break his jaw.

“I want to separate him from consciousness, completely flatline him inside the Octagon, and then we say farewell the sport’s biggest star,” Michael Chandler explained. “Then we can go about or merry way.” 

Who wins in a middleweight clash in June: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?

Former lightweight title challenger, Michael Chandler has predicted a stoppage win over incoming foe and former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor within just two rounds, as the pair gear-up for a massive June showdown – potentially at UFC 302 during International Fight Week.

Chandler, a former undisputed lightweight title challenger and current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined since he featured at UFC 281 back in November 2022, suffering an eventual third round rear-naked choke loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier. 

As for McGregor, the former undisputed lightweight champion and featherweight titleholder, has been sidelined since he fractured his left tibia and fibula in an opening round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to the aforenoted, Poirier at UFC 264.

And confirming at the turn of this year how he’s planning a June 29. return at UFC 302 in the summer, McGregor claimed he would be fighting Chandler in his return to the Octagon – in a middleweight divisional bow for the pair. 

Michael Chandler predicts KO win over rival, Conor McGregor

Receptive to a clash at the middleweight limit, Chandler claims if he actually stands opposite McGregor on June 29. – he’ll finish the Dubliner inside just 10 minutes.

“It’s going to be a big car, it’s going to be fun, and I finish Conor (McGregor) within the first two rounds and after that probably end his career,” Michael Chandler said on his official YouTube channel. “There’s just to much more than what people thing about on the surface level. I want battlegrounds of epic proportions, I want to stand in the cage with that man, I want to break that man’s will, I want to break his jaw.

“I want to separate him from consciousness, completely flatline him inside the Octagon, and then we say farewell the sport’s biggest star,” Michael Chandler explained. “Then we can go about or merry way.” 

Who wins in a middleweight clash in June: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?

Michael Chandler unbothered by potential steroid use by Conor McGregor ahead of their headlining bout. 

After much anticipation, McGregor Vs.  Chandler was finally announced for June of this year. It has been an odd, and controversial, period in McGregor’s career and while his usual antics have taken place, there has also been a growing concern that McGregor has been using PEDs during his time out. 

However, Chandler does not seem too fazed about McGregor’s potential drug use – in fairness the pros of a McGregor fight probably outweigh the cons in this circumstance. 

Michael Chandler previews UFC 302 clash with Conor McGregor

Talking to TMZ Sport, Michael Chandler was asked about the former double-champs potential use of PED’s – in fact he looks at is a mental weakness.

“Not really,” Chandler told TMZ Sports. “You know I mean everybody is on their own journey and everybody has their different ways that they would do things. Obviously, I’ve always looked at [PEDs} as a crutch. If there was something that somebody would be able to take while they weren’t being drug tested, compared to when they were, to me that would be nothing but a mental hurdle to get over.”(H/T MMA Mania)

Chandler would also confirm that the bout was 100% taking place after some doubted McGregor’s less than professional announcement. Fans have also been treated to numerous promises and push-backs of the fight, but it actually seems like it’s happening.

“We all know it’s never 100 percent officially confirmed until we actually step in the Octagon, but obviously my team has been in touch with the UFC,” Chandler told ESPN. “June 29 is what I’m preparing for. I’m leaving my family [at home in Nashville] to head down to Florida to get into fight camp — the fight camp that has been looming now for a year.”

Who will win, Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?

Expected to share the Octagon with former two-division champion, Conor McGregor at an earmarked UFC 302 event on June 29. – forme lightweight title challenger, Michael Chandler claims the Dubliner will more than likely retire following their showdown.

Chandler, the current number five ranked lightweight contender, has been sidelined for over a year from active competition, most recently dropping a third round rear-naked choke submission loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden.

Himself away from the sport since the summer of 2021, McGregor fractured his left tibia and fibula in an opening round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Lafayette native, Poirier in the pair’s heated trilogy rubber match. 

And confirming at the beginning of the year how he plans to fight Chandler at the middleweight limit of 185 pounds in his comeback fight, McGregor claimed he would feature in the main event of UFC 302 on June 29. during International Fight Week.

Conor McGregor predicted to retire after UFC 302

Ahead of the earmarked clash, however, Chandler claims he believes he’ll likely come as the final fighter to stand opposite McGregor in his professional mixed martial arts career.

“I do – I think I’ll be the last person [Conor McGregor fights],” Michael Chandler told ESPN. “I think he’s lost fights, but I think we haven’t really seen him be dominated. He was getting beat by (Dustin) Poirier and then obviously he had the injury. He got beat by Poirier the first time obviously, but I think I dominate him in a fashion that it’s almost as if he can keep trying to come back but he will have lost the fans’ interest so much more after I do to him what I’m going to do to him on June 29.”

Do you think Conor McGregor will end his career after UFC 302?