Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Michael Chandler (before his bout against Dustin Poirier during UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

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Michael Chandler Skips Conor McGregor Callout After RAF 3 Win; And The Reason Will Get Fans Super Excited!

Nov 12, 2022; New York, NY, USA; Michael Chandler (before his bout against Dustin Poirier during UFC 281 at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Alcheh-USA TODAY Sports

Fighters usually seize post-fight microphone moments to call out their next big opponent with theatrical flair. It’s become part of the sport’s entertainment formula: win impressively, then challenge someone famous while adrenaline pumps. Michael Chandler has mastered this art and fans love it. But this time, it was different.

Chandler has been practically obsessed with fighting Conor McGregor since 2022, mentioning the Irishman in almost every interview. He’s waited patiently while McGregor recovered from injuries, dealt with legal troubles, and served suspensions. Everyone assumed Chandler would use his RAF 3 victory over Chad Mendes as another opportunity to publicly challenge McGregor. But he skipped the callout and the reason might change everything about how fans view this long-delayed matchup’s status.

Michael Chandler Makes The Unexpected Jordan Burroughs Callout

Chandler headed into RAF 3 with one goal in mind: shake off the rust and prove he’s still elite. He accomplished exactly that, cruising through the contest and securing a clean victory over Mendes in Chicago. But instead of shouting McGregor’s name when handed the microphone, Chandler called out Olympic wrestling hero Jordan Burroughs. Fans were completely confused by this unexpected pivot from someone who’s been glued to the McGregor narrative for years.

Within hours, Chandler knew he had to explain why the man he had been chasing suddenly wasn’t worth mentioning. He posted a video message keeping things simple. He stated he wasn’t going to call out McGregor (22-6) at a wrestling match because he’d already done enough talking. Then he dropped the main line. This is what he stated:

“The fight’s already happening… been signed, sealed, and delivered since June of 2024….I’ll fight Conor in June, South Lawn, White House.”

Michael Chandler saying he skipped the callout at the RAF event because he is fully convinced the Conor fight is already happening saying “it’s been signed sealed and delivered since June 2024”💀✍️

Via: @MikeChandlerMMA pic.twitter.com/4YhGFJSmUV
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) December 1, 2025

‘Iron Mike’ believes the callout period is completely over. He claims McGregor has already brought in sparring partners that mimics his style, indicating the Irishman is genuinely committed this time. Chandler emphasized that everyone knows he wants to fight McGregor and McGregor wants to fight him. And the UFC White House card is potentially the venue for it.

As for the fight itself, Michael Chandler isn’t shy about his predictions. He pledged complete control, dominating McGregor rather than just winning. He envisions being draped in the stars and stripes after knocking out the Irishman on the South Lawn. If Chandler’s confidence turns out to be misplaced, he’ll hear about it forever. But if he’s correct, the White House becomes the most dramatic setting McGregor has ever stepped into for redemption.

(Image Credit: Jessica Alcheh – 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!