Apr 12, 2025; Miami, Florida, UNITED STATES; Michael Chandler (red gloves) fights against Paddy Pimblett (blue gloves) during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Michael Chandler Foresees Inevitability Of Conor McGregor Bout At Historic UFC White House Card

Apr 12, 2025; Miami, Florida, UNITED STATES; Michael Chandler (red gloves) fights against Paddy Pimblett (blue gloves) during UFC 314 at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Patience is supposed to be a virtue, but in MMA, it can feel more like torture. Michael Chandler has been waiting for his promised showdown with Conor McGregor for what feels like an eternity at this point. The two coached opposite each other on The Ultimate Fighter back in 2023, building up what seemed like the perfect rivalry setup for a massive pay-per-view fight. Everyone expected them to settle their differences inside the octagon at UFC 303 last June. But McGregor’s foot injury derailed those plans and left Chandler in limbo.

Now, more than a year later, Michael Chandler sees that the Conor McGregor bout might come to a fruition at the historic UFC White House card. He’s convinced the stars are finally aligning for their long-awaited collision.

The whole situation reveals how unpredictable the fight game can be when dealing with someone like McGregor. Chandler (23-10) has had to watch from the sidelines as his career momentum stalled while waiting for the Irish superstar. During that time, Chandler fought Charles Oliveira and lost a decision. He then suffered a brutal third-round knockout against Paddy Pimblett in April that had many questioning whether he was still elite level.

Meanwhile, McGregor has been posting cryptic social media messages and making grand statements about comebacks without actually booking any fights. It’s the kind of frustrating dance that has become synonymous with trying to do business with the former two-division champion.

UFC White House Card Changes Everything For Michael Chandler

Something seems different this time around though, and Chandler can feel the shift in momentum. The proposed UFC White House card scheduled for next June has created a unique opportunity that might be too special for even McGregor to pass up. The event is planned to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This would make it one of the most historically significant fight cards in UFC history. Chandler believes this kind of spectacle is exactly what would motivate McGregor to end his extended hiatus from competition.

Chandler recently told MMA Fighting that he thinks they are closer to making the fight happen than they have ever been before. He pointed out that McGregor has already expressed interest in being part of the White House card.

“In my heart of hearts, I think I’m fighting Conor McGregor at the White House and that sure does make a ton of sense for a multitude of reasons.”

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The matchup makes perfect sense from multiple angles, which gives Chandler reason to be optimistic. Both fighters have repeatedly acknowledged their mutual respect while also admitting they have unfinished business to settle. McGregor has called out Chandler on X multiple times, suggesting the Irish star hasn’t completely forgotten about their planned showdown. Whether McGregor actually fights on that card and if this fight actually happens remains to be seen. But the anticipation for McGregor’s return has touched new heights now!

(Image Credit: Sam Navarro – Imagn Images)

Conor McGregor

Michael Chandler

UFC White House

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!