Conor McGregor praised Michael Chandler despite his recent defeat to Charles Oliveira, while Chandler reignited their rivalry by challenging McGregor to settle their unfinished business once McGregor returns to fighting.
Conor McGregor didn’t see the point in kicking Michael Chandler when he was already down. After all, they’d been matched up for nearly two years before Chandler decided to move on. The delays were just too much. Chandler eventually faced Charles Oliveira at UFC 309’s co-main event, but it wasn’t his night.
Chandler lost in a one-sided decision, despite a late rally that almost turned the tide. It marked his second straight defeat, leaving him with a rough 1-4 record in his last five fights. Yet, McGregor had nothing but praise for Chandler’s performance, even if it ended in another loss to Oliveira.
“Cut Michael Chandler! Just kidding,” McGregor tweeted, only to delete it later. “Good fight. Mad little fellow is Michael. I like ’em!” His words showed respect and a touch of humor, typical McGregor style.
Despite the loss, Chandler wasted no time reigniting his rivalry with McGregor. He sent a fiery message to the Irishman about settling their unfinished business soon. “Conor and I need to finish The Ultimate Fighter 31 — if he comes back,” Chandler stated during the UFC 309 post-fight show.
Chandler added, “He either needs to retire and just sail off into the sunset or he needs to come back. So we’ll see what happens.” It’s clear he’s eager for closure.
McGregor hasn’t stepped into the octagon since 2021 after breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in their trilogy fight. He was supposed to return in June against Chandler but had to pull out due to a training injury—a broken pinky toe, of all things.
Since then, Dana White has insisted that McGregor plans to return. However, the latest update pushes his comeback to late 2025. Whether this timeline holds true remains anyone’s guess.