TMZSports.com
Michael ChandlerThe Christmas wish is to punch Conor McGregoron the UFC’s December card — and while Santa Claus can’t help here — Dana White can, and Iron Mike is desperately hoping he books the highly anticipated fight as the main event of UFC 310!
TMZ Sports caught up with Chandler, 38, on Wednesday … and asked the No. 6-ranked lightweight about his reaction to White’s recent statement that McGregor (and therefore Michael) would NOT to be fighting in 2024.
“If (Conor and I) can fight in December, we’ll do it. I’m in. But the fact of the matter is, I’ve been ready since I left training camp for that fight on June 29th and I’m ready to take a fight. Any fight, if that fight doesn’t look like it’s going to happen in December,” Chandler told us.
Of course, as Michael mentioned, he was supposed to face Conor at UFC 303 earlier this summer… but McGregor pulled out due to a toe injury.
🚨 Dana White says Conor McGregor will NOT fight this year#UFC #MMA photo.twitter.com/riNhpzbzn2
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 14, 2024
@RDS Champion
Despite Dana seemingly closing the door on a Conor appearance in 2024, Michael is still hopeful that a deal can be struck this year.
“As far as I know, this fight has some very big prospects to fight by the end of the year. And Conor is ready, I’m ready. Let’s sign on the dotted line!”
Mike — who hasn’t fought since he faced Dustin Poirier in November 2022 — also addressed detractors who accused him of waiting for Conor, with nothing to show for it in the end. The UFC star says he has absolutely no regrets.
“I got more promotions, probably made some pretty decent moves, and I’m really happy with my decision.”
As for McGregor’s response to Dana, it’s clear that Conor isn’t going to budge on the December target date either.
“Ah Dana, December is the date!” McGregor wrote in an X post that he has since deleted.
“Bring the calendar year home with a winning event! Come on, what’s this? I’m heading to altitude next month to prepare. DECEMBER! Tell Dana and the UFC WE WANT DECEMBER! WE DESERVE DECEMBER!”
Conclusion for Chandler… “The UFC puts on fights that make sense, that get people’s athletic and emotional juices flowing, and I think they’re missing the mark if they can’t make this fight.”
Who gets what they want?? Stay tuned… and check out the full interview with Mike in the meantime! 👊