Michael Chandler thinks he’d have a size advantage over Conor McGregor at welterweight.
Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) is eager to welcome McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) back to the octagon and is even willing to fight him at 170 pounds to make it happen. McGregor has put on significant size since breaking his leg in an injury-TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, but Chandler said he’s likely heavier than McGregor right now.
“I’m walking around almost 190 right now,” Chandler said on the “Believe You Me” podcast with Michael Bisping. “And I stay lean, because I’m always training. …
“I’m not getting fluffy or fat, and I’m always around that 185-190 clip. So 170, for me, would be a dream come true. I don’t like making 155. The only reason I can make 155 is just good, old-fashioned 12 weeks of diet, exercise, discipline, and a little bit of dehydration at the end, so why not do 170? I still think I’m bigger than Conor at this point, even with his regimen that he’s been on.”
McGregor has revealed that he’ll be coaching Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” although no announcement has been made. He didn’t mention who would be coach opposite him, but Tony Ferguson hinted it could be him.
Chandler says he and McGregor would deliver both on the show and in the cage.
“The tension, the rivalry, the competition, the trash talk,” Chandler said. “Just the animosity that would be built up and then going into a training camp and then fight later on after the show. I want the fight. Everyone knows that. The fans want the fight, Dana has gone public saying he wants that fight, so the UFC wants the fight. … Man, huge fight. Can you imagine the first round?”
