Conor McGregor agrees to fight Michael Chandler as UFC return edges closer

Conor McGregor has agreed to a future bout with Michael Chandler, following the latter’s instant classic against Justin Gaethje on Saturday.

In the main-card opener at UFC 268 in Madison Square Garden, Chandler suffered a unanimous decision defeat by Gaethje in a fight of the year contender.

The result in New York City saw Chandler’s UFC record slip to 1-2 since the former Bellator champion’s arrival in the promotion late last year.

The American enjoyed a successful UFC debut in January as he knocked out Dan Hooker in the first round, with that bout taking place on the undercard of McGregor’s second meeting with Dustin Poirier – which the Irishman lost via second-round knockout.

Chandler then challenged for the vacant lightweight title in May, almost finishing Charles Oliveira in the first round, only to be stopped himself early in the second.

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Like McGregor, who broke his leg in his trilogy bout with Poirier this July, Chandler has now fallen to back-to-back defeats. The 35-year-old hurt Gaethje multiple times at UFC 268 but was also bloodied and staggered en route to a unanimous-decision loss.

In the aftermath of that fight, Chandler has been typically humble but has also taken to Twitter to call out McGregor.

On Monday, Chandler shared a mock-up image of a face-off between himself and former dual-weight champion McGregor. The caption simply read: “2022.”

McGregor replied to the tweet, writing: “I’m down at some stage for sure. Great fight the other night Mike, congrats!”

Chandler responded: “Thank you sir. It would be my pleasure. See you soon.”

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McGregor is without a win since January 2019, when he stopped Donald Cerrone within 40 seconds in a welterweight contest.

The 33-year-old is expected to be fit to return to the Octagon in the first half of next year.

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