McGregor–Chandler Fight: Why It Never Happened
The proposed 2024 McGregor–Chandler fight did not happen. McGregor withdrew from UFC 303 in June with an injury, and UFC president Dana White said McGregor would not compete again that year. Chandler instead rematched Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, losing by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45).
The Waiting Game
Michael Chandler, a formidable force in the UFC’s lightweight division, has found himself in a unique position. For nearly two years, his career has been in a holding pattern, awaiting the return of the notorious Irishman, Conor McGregor. However, contrary to what one might expect, Chandler harbors no ill will towards McGregor for the prolonged delay.
A Glimpse of Hope
In July 2024, a glimmer of hope emerged when McGregor took to social media to announce that he had spoken with UFC President Dana White about a potential return date. The former dual-weight champion confidently stated, “I talked to Dana today about our new date, all looking good! 24′ for sure.” This announcement was met with enthusiasm from Chandler, who responded with a simple yet telling handshake emoji.
The Road Ahead
Chandler expected the matchup to happen in 2025, but that date passed without the fight. After McGregor withdrew from UFC 303, Chandler instead returned to the Octagon at UFC 309 for a rematch with Charles Oliveira.
Chandler’s Next Move
At UFC 309 on November 16, 2024, Oliveira defeated Chandler by unanimous decision, with judges’ scores of 49-46, 49-46 and 49-45. Chandler later returned to UFC action against Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Freedom 250 in June 2026.
The Bigger Picture
The long wait did not guarantee a fight, and Chandler ultimately returned to other lightweight matchups. His 2024 rematch with Oliveira and later appearance against Ruffy show that his career continued without the proposed McGregor bout.
Looking Forward
As the MMA community eagerly awaits further developments, one thing is clear: the proposed bout never materialized. The canceled pairing is a reminder that a public callout or target date is not the same as a booked fight.
In the unpredictable world of UFC, the Chandler-McGregor saga serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most anticipated fights are worth the wait. As both fighters continue their respective journeys, the record turned from speculation to results: Chandler fought Oliveira in 2024 and Ruffy in 2026, while the McGregor matchup remained unmade.
Citations:
[1] https://www.essentiallysports.com/ufc-mma-news-conor-mcgregor-and-michael-chandler-finally-start-negotiations-with-dana-white-as-ufc-stars-give-vital-update-on-twenty-twenty-four-fight/
[2] https://twitter.com/MMAJunkie/status/1835426510565478484
[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Jz8luQqLj8
[4] https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/conor-mcgregor-bkfc
[5] https://frontkick.online/latest/mma-news-in-short-get-updated-now/
[6] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilY64L1wbnI
[7] https://www.ufc.com/news/official-judges-scorecards-ufc-309-jones-vs-miocic
[8] https://www.ufc.com/athlete/michael-chandler
Sources
Tags: MMA
