Will Conor McGregor And Michael Chandler Live Up To The Hype?

Las Vegas will be rocking on June 29, with UFC 303 happening at T-Mobile Arena. It’ll feature Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler as the main event, with the card already breaking records. Dana White reported a $20 million gate being exceeded, a UFC record.

While breaking records is nice and fun, there’s reason to believe the match might be, well, overhyped. Does anybody know who Michael Chandler is? What’s he doing fighting a guy like McGregor? These are questions asked by casual fans.

But there are more pressing questions being asked by more faithful fans. One of those is if the fight will live up to the hype. What happens if the match turns out to be similar to Robelis Despaigne’s fight against Waldo Cortes-Acosta?

The Consequences Of A Bad Conor McGregor Fight

One consequence of a bad fight for Conor McGregor is it’ll tarnish his reputation. That’s especially true if Michael Chandler pulls off the upset on the Irishman at UFC 303. McGregor will be seen as washed, not having the talent he once had in the octagon.

Fans will also see “Notorious” as being tied up in too many projects, with various movies and business deals restricting him. There’s such a thing as doing too much, which could apply to McGregor in this case.

That’s why the former two-division champion needs to look sharp on June 29. He must not let these perceptions happen, keeping himself on top of his game. Additionally, McGregor must also soundly finish Chandler. Otherwise, the Irishman will face a wave of criticism from diehard MMA fans, saying he’s become soft.

It’s Not On McGregor, Though

But this situation doesn’t just fall on Conor McGregor, though. It’s also on Michael Chandler to challenge McGregor, going the distance and playing to his strengths. The Missouri native can’t look foolish in his fight against “Notorious,” which will additionally lead to people thinking McGregor picked a pushover opponent.

It takes two to tango in the UFC world, where both fighters must be at their best. What fans saw on Saturday with Despaigne vs. Cortes-Acosta is a shining example of this. Chandler and McGregor are carrying UFC 303 with a record-breaking gate. Now it’s time for the fight to live up to the hype.