Michael Chandler does not expect Conor McGregor to pose any threat to him when they fight. He even said UFC 303 could become McGregor’s final outing inside the octagon. Meanwhile, McGregor has admitted to some ring rust ahead of the bout. Straight Blast Gym (SBG) coach John Kavanagh might say he looks sharp as ever, but it did not convince Tim Welch to pick McGregor over Chandler.
Tim Welch would have rightful reason to think so. Islam Makhchev thinks Michael Chandler has looked desperate, waiting long enough for the fight. On the other hand, the ESPN MMA panel had Michael Bisping and Chael Sonnen say that the former Bellator champ has made McGregor his ultimate goal in sight. With more motivation than ever, Welch revealed why he picked Chandler.
I think Conor makes weight, [at 170] and I think Michael has [been prepping]…but then Conor always looks phenomenal in shape, right? But I think Chandler is going to get it…as much as I would like Conor to…want to see him keep going…Michael Chandler looks fit he looks…he's not f*cking around, he's not doing nose blow every single day… Tim Welch via the “TimboSugarShow” Podcast EP. 282
Welch’s proposition got some hilarious retorts from his “TimboSugarShow” Podcast co-hosts. Some were quick to point out Chandler’s stand-and-bang fighting style (along the lines of Arman Tsarukyan saying he has the worst battle IQ and misses 1000s of punches). Meanwhile, Sean O’Malley pointed out the case of Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney. He felt weed-fueled mannerisms and controversies do not always guarantee a loss.
‘Suga’ aspires to rise to “Conor McGregor” levels of fandom. Hence, he naturally overlooks the vices that come along. However, Welch thought Chandler had been on a straight path toward his goal and would come out better for it. As such, Welch expects Chandler to overcome the challenge of the ‘Notorious.’
What does Michael Chandler think of Conor McGregor’s return bout against him?
Conor McGregor has been on a long 3-year layoff after suffering a horrific leg break. Chandler has also waited for a long time, having coached TUF: Season 31 along with the Irishman. However, he has constantly posted about his preparation for the bout even a year before it was announced.
While you may find Conor McGregor’s social media handles full of reposts, voiceover notes, and snippets about his Poper 12 Irish whiskey and Irish politics, Chandler’s is different. Weekly, Michael Chandler has documented his patience and training, harder and harder. Moreover, he has a clear idea of what pushes him toward a win.
What I need to work on in this fight is to continue to be the best version of myself, maybe a little bit more tactical...I don’t need to get into a firefight with a guy who has got a bigger rifle than me... I think I hit harder than he does...His time out of the cage has lent itself to his timing not being what it used to be... Michael Chandler via “The Shawn Ryan Show” Podcast Ep.106
‘The Notorious’ still upholds quite a fan following despite his prolonged inactivity and numerous controversies. However, some sections of fans often jibe at his movement being slower or his feats being very minimal. Chandler aims to bank on that out-of-experience part of McGregor when they finally meet. Who comes out on top at UFC 303 is anybody’s guess. However, Chandler is setting up to be more tactical about it.
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