It was May 2022 and Michael Chandler just scored the breathtaking knockout of the front kick, the crumbling Tony Ferguson before breath in Phoenix. That was the bonus “gentlemen!” For fans whose primary draw for UFC 274 was the main event, combat against two other lightweight weights, both larger stars than Chandler.
But there in the middle of Cage stood Chandler and on the wheels of the wave of adrenaline from his lead role in finishing his foot to the face that would be a difficult act Charles Oliveira or Justin Slave follow.
The microphone was dragged in front of his face for his face conversation and Chandler did what could be expected from the rated £ 155 after a spectacular victory: he said why he should be another rival for any of the night main. Then Chandler’s voice deepened as he redirected his scream and pointed to someone who knew something about this type of access to the microphone.
“Conor McGregor! You have to go back and fight someone! “Chandler yelled and ordered the crowd’s attention as a rough tony Robbins.” I’m the most fun light on the planet! But I want to increase bets, Conore! I want you on your biggest! I want you to the worst! And I want you best! You and me at 170 this summer, this autumn, this winter! ”
It was an intoxicating description that generated online buzzing among MMA fans. But buzzing turned out to be bust, because this summer, this autumn, this winter “passed without a fight. McGregor healed a broken leg and appeared Hollywood biased and subtitlesMany of them are concerned. Chandler, however, was patiently waiting and the following February were he and the star Irish named “Ultimate Fighter”, Season 31.
“At the end of the season,” said UFC President Dana White in a video revealing TF, “McGregor and Chandler will fight live at ESPN+ pay-per-view.
Another two years have passed and still no fight. UFC managed to book McGregor vs. Chandler 29. June 2024, but June 13, Promotion quoted her injury at the top of McGregor. Chandler finally admitted that he was waiting long enough for his date with the greatest sport star-and probably the life-changing life that came with it. Later in the year, which lost the decision, he fought against Oliveira.
Chandler is back on Saturday at UFC 314 (ESPN+ PPV22:00 et, with prelims at ESPN/ESPN+/DISNEY+ at 20:00 et), face insolent British prospect Paddy pimblett. Fight this The toughened spoken warrior from all over the pond could seem to Chandler a cruel decline after he had been tied to another Cocksure guy from that part of the world, one who is a significantly more perfect and higher profile. But Chandler is better to pair with Pimblett than with McGregor. Here are three reasons why.
Chandler gets paid more
We recognize from the bat that this is a contraintuitive assumption. McGregor is the biggest star in sport at a kilometer and the fight with him would certainly clean his opponents more money than any other fight. But the mere act of signing in the fight against McGregor did not make Chandler a rich man.
To make chandler to earn him, McGregor would have to get into the cage and fight – something that since he smashed his leg during the loss Dustin Poirier In July 2021 and almost five years before, McGregor fought only four times. Almost as many times left as he fought.
Who can blame him? McGregor has made a fortune and lives a comfortable life. Its interests and options are greater than what 30 feet cage can contain 30 feet. Chandler can be Norman Vincent Peale from MMA, but even his Positive thinking is not strong enough to show the return of McGregor.
Chandler is better with a certain thing. Pimblett does not have to rain on him Golden Bullion, but it is much more likely than McGregor to show up in the payout.
Chandler will be on the side and
Sure, that’s questionable, because Pimblett is also popular with fans. Chandler, however, performed under a much brighter reflector. Within ten years with Bellator MMA he was a three-time light champion and his six UFC struggles put him in a cage with light elites- Dan HookerOliveira, Gaethje, Ferguson, Poirier and Oliveira. Pimblett’s resume is no match.
Pimblett, however, has a winning journey about him – and I’m not just talking about his eight consecutive victory. His dirty behavior seems to be more real than a striking personality. It depends on demanding fans. Yet Chandler should be able to hold his own in promotion.
It wouldn’t be if Chandler’s microphone skills sparrized with McGregor. In McGregor’s combat promotion is not on the side A and on the side of the A-compound and leads leads each song. It also plays all the loudest tools and sells tickets at the cash register. The opponent will receive a 20 -minute opening set of the promotional equivalent.
Chandler will have a better chance to win
Pimblett is a mild favorite (-160 to the ESPN bet), but Chandler has something important to his advantage: he knows what he is in an Englishman. McGregor, on the other hand, would be a mysterious opponent.
It is impossible to assess how much fight remains in McGregor. He was idle for so long that one of the 11 current UFC champions had no belt at a time when McGregor’s last eight -year appearance was holding a belt. And when he has In recent years, McGregor has fought so well – he lost three of his last four struggles. However, these defeats came against the iron division, Poirier twice and Khabib Nurmagomedov“So we do not confuse McGregor as Has-Been. It would be wiser to see him at this point as a mythological figure that could or may not exist in reality.
Fighters always say that they have prepared to face the best version of their opponent. But McGregor at the best case, a dynamic striker powered by mysterious timing and accuracy, would build a whole offense, “Iron Mike” without defense Eddie Alvarez In 2016 he became the first UFC champion, which ruled in two divisions at the same time. That Of course, McGregor no longer exists, but could Chandler last even 75% of the guy?
On the other hand, Pimblett is in his main condition and won all six of his UFC fighting, half of them with their dynamic subordinate game. But he was never in a cage with anyone at Chandler’s level. Pimblett shared a cage with Ferguson, although until then “El Cucuy” was in the middle of a faded warrior in the middle The longest lane loss in UFC history. Chandler showed Ferguson’s lights in the initial seconds of 2. Fighting Pimblett went on.
“Paddy The Baddy” can get off on Saturday and do something. “Iron Mike” can stop the rise of the star in production while turning its own stopped dynamics. This is the right struggle for both men.
