Daniel Cormier is adamant Conor McGregor will actually return at middleweight.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) announced that his fight with Michael Chandler will take place in June at International Fight Week at 185 pounds, a weight class that neither man has ever fought in.
Although Cormier thinks welterweight makes more sense – a weight class both McGregor and Chandler have competed in before, he sees “The Notorious” getting his way.
“It’s happening at 185,” Cormier said on his ESPN show “DC & RC.” “It shouldn’t happen there. I agree that it doesn’t have the meaning that it should have (at lightweight). But I still believe it does because I believe that Conor McGregor is just going to make Michael Chandler do whatever he wants. And if that means fighting at a weight class he’s never fought at, that he doesn’t feel comfortable at, that’s what he’s going to do because he feels like it’s going to be in his favor.”
Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) has been a lightweight for the majority of his career, but has no issues fighting McGregor two weight classes above.
“I always said I wanted you at your biggest, your baddest and your best. 185 would look good on me.”
I always said I wanted you at your biggest, your baddest and your best. 185 would look good on me.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 31, 2023
“Don’t forget who was a natural featherweight who started his UFC career fighting cherry-picked bantamweights.”
Don’t forget who was a natural featherweight who started his UFC career fighting cherry-picked bantamweights.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 31, 2023
However, Cormier wishes Chandler showed some more pushback, instead of complying to everything McGregor says.
“I think this is a game. I think Conor McGregor is the puppetmaster, and I think Michael Chandler is being far too easy to play with,” Cormier said. “At this point, Michael Chandler is Pinocchio. Conor McGregor’s doing stuff like (pulling puppet strings) with Michael Chandler and I don’t like it because I like Michael Chandler. But I think he’s doing too much.”
