American professional mixed martial artist Michael Chandler is making headlines for calling out Conor McGregor on the latest episode of WWE Monday Night Raw in Anaheim, California. This is not the first time McGregor has been challenged. New UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria challenged the Irishman during his UFC 298 post-fight interview.
McGregor has not appeared in any fights ever since he suffered a leg injury against Dustin Poirier in 2021 at UFC 264. Michael Chandler had also lost his last fight to Poirier at UFC 281 in 2022. Facing off against each other will give them both a chance to redeem themselves from their defeat to Poirier. Chandler has openly challenged McGregor to a fight.
Michael Chandler Challenged Conor McGregor on WWE Monday Night Raw
Conor McGregor has not come out for any fights lately due to his leg injury, but he seems to be doing alright now if the training videos he posts are anything to go by. This, however, has not stopped him from becoming the callout target of fighters.
Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler coached opposite one another on the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter. However, the two did not fight like coaches usually do within one or two months of the show’s airing. However, last December, McGregor challenged Chandler at 185 pounds in June this year. At the time, Chandler told ESPN‘s Brett Okamoto:
“Here we go, this is the fight I’ve been training for. Any weight—155, 170, 185 pounds—is good with me.”
Fast forward to February 19, 2024, Samantha Irvin, the ring announcer, handed over the microphone to Chandler, who was seated among the audience on the latest episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. The fighter took complete advantage of his mic time as he called out McGregor (via WWE on X):
“Conor McGregor, get your candy a** back to the Octagon. We have some unfinished business boys. God bless! I’ll see you at the top.”
The UFC and WWE have been under one corporate umbrella, TKO, since 2023. Michael Chandler’s cameo could become the first cameo in the crossovers that are going to happen between the two promotions.
UFC CEO Dana White Claimed Conor McGregor’s Return is Uncertain
Conor McGregor was supposed to make his return on the International Fight Week pay-per-view lineup, set for June 29 in Las Vegas. That does not seem likely now that UFC CEO Dana White has expressed his uncertainty about the fighter’s return.
During the UFC 298 post-event news conference, White said:
“Money complicates a lot of things. He just filmed a movie. He’s got to do the press for the movie, and he’s got obligations with that. He does want to fight this year, but we’ll see what happens.”
McGregor has two fights left on his UFC contract. When White was asked if getting the fighter to sign a new contract with more fights was an issue, instead of giving a clear answer, the CEO praised the former two-division champion, saying that it was never hard to deal with him throughout his career.
