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Conor McGregor to Skip Past All Top 5 LW Contenders for Islam Makhachev Fight With Michael Chandler Win, Claims UFC Legend

Published 04/03/2024, 4:17 AM EDT

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Conor McGregor may not be back in action but according to Henry Cejudo, all he needs is one win to find himself right at the top of the list for the 155 lbs title! The Irish superstar has recently been busy promoting his role in ‘Road House’. However, he had made waves in the MMA community as, during a recent interview with ESPN, he proclaimed, “And ‘The Mac,’ ‘The Notorious’ will be returning to the UFC Octagon this summer.”

While the UFC and CEO Dana White have yet to release an official statement or confirmation about his claims, Henry Cejudo believes that McGregor holds a unique position in the current climate of the UFC. As such, speaking on his YouTube Channel, ‘Triple C’ broke down how ‘The Notorious’ can leap-frog all contenders for the UFC lightweight title with just one victory!

Henry Cejudo breaks down why rankings don’t matter for Conor McGregor

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Conor McGregor’s comeback fight against Michael Chandler was originally scheduled to take place after TUF 31 last year but has since faced numerous delays. While the Irish superstar previously indicated that he wished to return on June 29, the UFC didn’t make any statements confirming his claims.

Both men have also been out of action for extended periods, with McGregor’s last fight taking place in 2021 at UFC 264 and Chandler’s last bout taking place in 2022 at UFC 281.

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But according to Henry Cejudo, “Conor had the ability to create that whole drama, is the reason why 155 lbs. It’s all about storytelling. I think Conor McGregor did a really really good job. That being said, Conor McGregor gets a win over Michael Chandler, he skips everybody. Including the winner of Charles Oliveira-Arman Tsarukyan, including Justin Gaethje-Max Holloway.”

His comments highlight the fact that the UFC’s lightweight division is currently filled to the brim with challengers who wish to take on the champion, Islam Makhachev. While Cejudo didn’t mention Dustin Poirier during this particular segment, ‘The Diamond’ has also been vocal about taking another shot at the belt, in light of his impressive victory at UFC 299 recently.

‘Triple C’ further went on to state, “…in this particular time and this particular era that we’re living in, it has sh*t to do with accolades. You know what it has to do with ladies and gentlemen? It has to do with that money, and that’s one thing that Conor McGregor does bring to the table. ”

In conclusion, McGregor’s star power and ability to draw audiences could elevate him above other contenders in the division, but it could also cause potential upheaval for the other contenders for the title, as indicated by Cejudo.

However, a former UFC lightweight recently also claimed that the McGregor vs. Chandler fight may have lost some of its luster due to being delayed so much!

McGregor vs. Chandler slammed for not being ‘special’

The highly anticipated bout between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler remains unconfirmed as of now, leaving fans struggling to maintain their hype for the fight. Despite McGregor’s recent claims that he will be returning to the cage this summer, there have been no indications from the UFC and Dana White regarding a date or venue for his comeback.

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As such, former Strikeforce champion and co-host of the ‘Weighing In’ podcast, Josh Thompson confessed that he has doubts about the potential significance of the fight. He stated, “When Nate Diaz did it (beat McGregor), it was special… But, if Chandler did it (beat McGregor), I don’t even think we would be impressed. You beat a dude that’s been doing movies and drinking and partying for three years.”

Thomson also acknowledged the fight’s entertainment value but cautioned against overstating its significance, emphasizing McGregor’s diminished training and Chandler’s prolonged absence from competition. As fans await official confirmation from the UFC, the anticipation for McGregor’s potential comeback clash with Chandler persists, tempered by questions about its relevance in the broader context of the division.

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Do you think Conor McGregor will get a title shot if he beats Michael Chandler? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 

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Written by:

Dushyant Patni

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Dushyant Patni is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. Dushyant brings 8 years of professional writing experience to his coverage of MMA at ES. This literature graduate excels in the coverage of both MMA-related and off-topic subjects.
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Edited by:

Yeswanth Praveen