Daniel Cormier thinks Michael Chandler may be choosing the Conor McGregor fight for a specific reason! The two men were originally set to clash at the conclusion of the TUF 31 season last year, but the fight fell through due to reasons surrounding McGregor’s availability for drug testing. The Irishman had recently teased that he would be making a return in June 2024 and face Chandler at 185 lbs. but there have been no official confirmations from the UFC regarding his claims as of now.
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As such, Cormier recently revealed why he thinks Chandler may be taking “a step back” to fight McGregor. In his statements, the former UFC ‘champ-champ’ also hinted that the reason behind Chandler pursuing the McGregor fight involves a perceived deterioration of the Irishman’s standing in the UFC!
Daniel Cormier makes bold claims about Conor McGregor’s “elite” status
Conor McGregor has been absent from the Octagon since his loss against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. While he has recovered from the severe leg injury that sidelined him from competition, his return against Michael Chandler has been the source of much speculation by the fans.
Therefore, in a recent conversation on the ‘DC & RC’ show, Daniel Cormier revealed the reason why he thinks Chandler is adamant on facing McGregor, despite multiple delays in the fight’s confirmation.
He stated, “I think Michael Chandler, and I hope this doesn’t come out the wrong way, I think Michael Chandler is actually stepping back to fight Conor McGregor. I think that Michael Chandler is leaving the elite of that division right now and stepping back to fight Conor”
While Cormier emphasized that Chandler still harbors aspirations for championship contention, however, by choosing McGregor, Cormier sees it as a step backward in terms of competitiveness. Cormier revealed, “He’s really choosing the name and the money over competition because I do believe that there are bigger fights for Mike for where he is in his career, opposed to where Conor is in his career.”
Cormier also suggested that defeating someone like Rafael Fiziev, instead of McGregor, could propel Chandler back into the mix for a title shot, positioning him closer to achieving his championship goals.
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And if Chandler does indeed step away from the McGregor bout, Cormier also revealed his choice for McGregor’s opponent for the upcoming UFC 300 card!
Cormier wants UFC to set-up McGregor vs Diaz trilogy at UFC 300
According to Daniel Cormier, the UFC would be better off with McGregor being a part of UFC 300 with a different opponent than Michael Chandler! During another conversation on the ‘DC & RC’ show, he stated that a Nate Diaz clash makes for a better fight for the Irishman because, “It is still two of the highest-grossing pay-per-views in UFC history. These two men when you put them together make a lot of money…”
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LAS VEGAS, NV – AUGUST 20: (L-R) Nate Diaz and Conor McGregor of Ireland embrace after finishing five rounds in their welterweight bout during the UFC 202 event at T-Mobile Arena on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
While acknowledging that both fighters have evolved in their careers since their last clash, Cormier believes the matchup remains a significant draw for fans. The McGregor-Diaz saga began in 2016, marked by Diaz’s stunning upset at UFC 196, followed by McGregor’s redemption at UFC 202. As such, Cormier reiterated that a potential trilogy is very enticing for the UFC.
As the MMA world awaits McGregor’s return, the uncertainty surrounding the opponent and date intensifies with fans eagerly speculating on what new details will come to light!
Do you think Conor McGregor is no longer an ‘elite’ lightweight in the UFC as hinted by Daniel Cormier? Why or Why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
