Michael Chandler has issued a vicious vow to "bludgeon" Conor McGregor in their UFC meeting later this year.
UFC superstar McGregor has not fought since breaking his leg in 2021, but announced last month he will finally return to the cage when he takes on American contender Chandler. The pair will do battle as part of the UFC's reality-TV style series The Ultimate Fighter, where both will have to coach teams of fighters to victory prior to stepping in the octagon themselves later this year.
The pair are currently in Las Vegas with McGregor having flown out to begin filming for the series, with an official date yet to be confirmed for their own cage meeting. And Chandler is supremely confident of derailing McGregor's career further, and has even predicted the finish will come in the second round.
"I can tell you this, it's definitely not going to happen," Chandler said during an interview while attending UFC 285 headlined by Jon Jones' win over Cyril Gane this weekend. I can tell you this, I see it going a lot, a much different way. I think I've seen enough of Conor over the last couple of week to know that I am going to not just slice through, but bludgeon him with both of these hands.
"And I will do whatever I want, both standing or on the ground and finishing by the second round. That's my Mystic Mac prediction and I stand behind it. There has been some tense moments here already, but Conor and I have a lot of mutual respect for one another. Although I don't know if we like each other as much as we thought we were going to.
"The good thing is we are set to settle it all under 4oz gloves under a certain ruleset in a contest later this year and I just cannot wait to get in there and do it." Chandler could deliver a hammer blow to McGregor's future in MMA given he has already lost in three of his last four appearances.
Do you think Michael Chandler will beat Conor McGregor? Let us know your prediction in the comments section below
McGregor has piled on weight since suffering his injury last time out and is expected to be weighing in at 170lb for their clash later this year. Despite Chandler trying to pile the pressure on his riva, McGregor himself has laughed off Chandler's prediction and is confident he will have his hand raised.
"I think I'm going to slice through him," McGregor told The Mac Life of his American rival. "I think I'm a little too slicey for him than anyone else he's fought. A little too snappy and whippy and I think I'll slice through him. I know he’s got some skills in the wrestling department and he’s got some skills overall. As far as the small, finer details, I’m interested to see."
