Michael Chandler has predicted that he will be chosen as the opponent to welcome Conor McGregor back to the UFC.
The former two-weight world champion has been out of action since July of last year when he broke his leg in a gruesome finish to his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier, who Chandler faces at UFC 281 this weekend. And the former Bellator champion believes that he will be given a shot at the sport's biggest star when he makes his return.
McGregor has just returned home to Ireland after filming his debut movie; Jake Gyllenhaal's remake of Road House, and is believed to now start working towards a fighting comeback. There are a number of options out there for the Irishman both in the octagon and the boxing ring, but Chandler believes he makes the most sense stylistically and as a box office draw.
"I do," Chandler responded when asked by Mirror Fighting if he feels McGregor will return to the octagon next year. "And I believe his first fight back will be me, it makes a ton of sense. I believe that I've made myself not just one of the most exciting guys in the UFC but probably the most exciting guy in the lightweight division."
Chandler is even willing to move up in weight to meet the Irishman at welterweight, where he has vowed to make his return after packing on the pounds during his time away. McGregor has previously indicated that he would be willing to face the lightweight, responding positively to his callout after beating Tony Ferguson at UFC 274.
"There's a ton of talk about it," Chandler continued I can't go a day without people tagging and posting and talking about me fighting Conor if and when he does come back. And if he does I would love the idea of fighting him at his biggest and his most dangerous at 170lb.
"He looks big right now, I'd love to fight him at 170lb because I'd love to not make 155lb for it. I think that we would do staggering pay-per-view numbers and I think he knows that I am the type of opponent that he wants to come back and fight."
Do you want to see Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
A win over Poirier this weekend, which would be his first in three attempts at Madison Square Garden, would likely put Chandler back in title contention at lightweight. But at 36 years old, he is being tempted more and more by the opportunity to move up to welterweight, where he started his career.
And despite McGregor's recent losing run, his star power would immediately catapult whomever he fights in his comeback to title contention should they win. A victory of that magnitude could push Chandler to stick around at welterweight, although he isn't keen to permanently give up advantages in reach and height.
"I've definitely thrown around the idea," he said of a permanent move to welterweight. "I definitely have thrown around the idea - making 155lb is not easy for me. But I came into the UFC and signed a contract saying that I was a lightweight. [I've had] 31 fights and hundreds of wrestling matches and never once pulled out of a fight or missed weight.
"It's never even been a question because I'm a professional. But there are definitely some fights that I would love to take at 170lb, but I'm not a natural 170-pounder, it's more height and distance than anything."
