Dustin Poirier: Michael Chandler was a 'layup' for Conor McGregor
Dustin Poirier says Michael Chandler was the perfect comeback opponent for Conor McGregor. McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) vs. Chandler was in the works after they filmed Season 31 of "TUF" in 2023, with the pair even getting booked to fight at UFC 303 in March 2024 before a broken pinky toe forced McGregor out of the fight.
Chandler kept angling for the fight to get rescheduled until UFC CEO Dana White revealed in January that the fight was no longer part of the promotion's plans . Chandler (23-10 MMA, 2-5 UFC) found himself booked against rising lightweight Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Freedom 250 on June 14 at the White House, and McGregor is yet to have a fight announced. McGregor hinted at a matchup against a "no-name" at welterweight, which Carlos Prates claimed was him.
Prates accused McGregor of turning the fight down . "I thought the Chandler fight was a layup for him, a great matchup for him" Poirier said on a recent episode of "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. "He's up there, 38 or 39, but it's just a layup for Conor.
Chandler's hittable, covers distance not that technically, huge movements. You jump in, you get carried out. Conor's a sniper.
I just think that's a great matchup for him. " McGregor hasn't fought since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Poirier in July 2021. Prior to that, he was knocked out by Poirier at UFC 257.