Michael Chandler claims Conor McGregor's legacy would be 'tarnished' if they don't fight in UFC

Michael Chandler thinks Conor McGregor’s legacy will be tarnished if the two don’t fight in the UFC. 

Despite being paired against each other in this season of The Ultimate Fighter, the two reality show coaches have yet to sign a bout agreement. The anticipation, like any season of the show, is for the two coaches to fight.

However even with nothing official, Chandler isn’t worried about potentially the biggest payday of his career.

“Yes, it’s more of the timing,” Chandler said on KFC Radio. “When you think about the UFC, the biggest mixed martial arts corporation or promotion on the planet, trying to put together Conor, myself, I mean, all these different cards, these guys are putting out fires nonstop. So they haven’t even announced the October card, November card, let alone maybe if we fought in December. I don’t put too much stock into it.”

McGregor recently said he looks forward to an “upcoming fight,” whatever that means. But there’s still no time frame on McGregor vs. Chandler to headline a massive UFC PPV.

“A lot of people are interested when it’s going to happen,” Chandler said. “When’s Conor coming back? When’s our fight going to happen, now that we’re building it with The Ultimate Fighter (and) all that kind of stuff. So I understand. I understand people’s eagerness to get the answers. 

“But also, if you’re just a victim of the circumstance, if at all … I’m just enjoying the ride. I’m the guy, Conor’s the guy, we’re going to end up fighting sometime.”

Chandler doubled down on his prediction that the two men will definitely fight.

“Historically, the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter have never not fought,” Chandler said. “And I don’t think Conor would ever want to delve into his legacy being tarnished by him coming back and not (fighting).”

After the latest episode, Chandler’s team of veterans is 6-0 against McGregor’s team of prospects. Tensions boiled over in the most recent installment of the show.

McGregor is 22-6 in his MMA career but lost three of his last four fights. Two were to Dustin Poirier and one was to Khabib Nurmagomedov for the UFC Lightweight Championship.

McGregor is a former two-weight champion in the promotion but only fought four times since November 12, 2016. He won his second belt over Eddie Alvarez and became the first to hold two belts at once.

Chandler is 23-8 in his MMA career and 2-3 in the UFC after he came over from Bellator. He is the former Bellator Lightweight Champion and did fight for the UFC belt, but lost to Charles Oliveira in May of 2021.