Is McGregor Vs. Chandler Dead?

Three defeats from his last four, means The Notorious is no longer at his peak. However, with two fights left on his UFC contract, Conor is not done. The Irishman has said he wants to fight on the UFC White House card in June. A fight with Chandler has long been talked about. Their rivalry started on the TUF 31 series as rival coaches. A UFC 303 fight was agreed for June 2024, but Conor pulled out due to a broken pinky toe. While that was seen as McGregor’s next fight eventually, White’s comments suggest otherwise.

“No, that was a couple years ago. No,” White said

“Pick who ya want! The Mac sweats nothin and nobody. I’m TASTY SHOTS,” McGregor stated

Alternatives

Dan Hooker could be an option. Both fighters publicly “shook on” a matchup, with McGregor even naming February 1, 2025, as a target date. Hooker is a fan-favorite who fights with a “kill-or-be-killed” style that perfectly complements McGregor’s striking. For McGregor, a win over Hooker would prove he can still compete with the division’s elite, while for Hooker, it’s the massive payday he has earned through years of wars.

“Lock it in. I jumped in the ring, we had a few words inside the ring, but yeah: February 1 works for me, in Saudi. We’ll get that thing squared away. We’re kindred spirits, as you could say. I think we’re both very similar, there’s a lot of similarities there. I’m on board, he’s on board; we just need to get the UFC on board and we’ll get this thing across the line,” Hooker said

If the UFC wants to maximize PPV buys, Nate Diaz is a good option. Their rivalry is currently tied at 1-1, and the “rubber match” is arguably the biggest fight the UFC has left in its pocket. Though Diaz has explored free agency and boxing, a return for a trilogy fight on at “White House” event would be a global spectacle. Neither fighter is currently in their physical prime, making it a “fair” competitive matchup.

“I wouldn’t like to fight him in the bare knuckle fight, though. I’d like him in a real fight because we got history there and we gotta finish what we gotta do and that’s a real fight. It’s the whole package,” Diaz stated