UFC legend Michael Bisping expects Conor McGregor to challenge for a UFC title if he beats Michael Chandler in his comeback fight.
McGregor has been out of action since breaking his leg in July 2021 after a second consecutive defeat to Dustin Poirier, but has since been preparing for his UFC comeback. This week it was announced he would be returning to the octagon when he meets Chandler as part of the promotion's series The Ultimate Fighter.
A date for their own octagon showdown has yet to be officially confirmed, but the Irishman is hoping he can launch an assault on the 170lb division when he does return to action. UFC legend Bisping has handed McGregor plaudits for accepting a meeting with Chandler, and has suggested it is enough to earn him a shot at the champion.
“If McGregor gets it done, will we see him fight for the title next? That is a given,” Bisping said on his YouTube channel when assessing McGregor's chances of becoming champion again. “That is 100 percent. Just prepare yourself mentally for that. Regardless of whatever you think, he’s the biggest star of the sport. He’s a former two-weight division champion, and he’s a person that people want to see fight.
“So if he goes out there and beats Michael Chandler, who’s one of the top-ranked lightweights on the planet, and he does so in exciting fashion, I’ll be honest: I’ll have no problem with him fighting for the belt. McGregor vs Chandler, I’m excited. Take my money already.
"I respect him for taking this fight [Chandler]. There were easier fights for him to take. There was a rumour that McGregor was going to go up against Tony Ferguson. “Tony Ferguson would’ve been, with respect to Tony, a kind of more winnable fight. It’s a tough fight for McGregor. He’s getting older. He’s been partying a bit. He snapped his leg.”
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McGregor previously stated his ambition to challenge Charles Oliveira when he was champion at 155lb, but after putting on weight during his recovery it seems likely he will instead return at 170lb. The title is currently held by Leon Edwards who will defend his title against Kamaru Usman in London next month.
And 'Rocky' has suggested he would be willing to meet the Irishman in a mega-fight if he is to come through his clash with Chandler. He said: "I think he [McGregor] probably will come back, he's got big now as well so I think he'll definitely come back at welterweight and like I said, we've got the same management team so it's a fight that would be easy to make if it was to happen.
Do I think I'd win? 100 per cent. I think I'm the younger and more technical fighter but my focus isn't on Conor at all, because I've got killers around me who are active now that are more challenging that McGregor."
