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Conor McGregor has been at the forefront of the UFC's most successful PPV events for some time now. No one has come close to matching the number of PPV buys he generates every time he steps inside the octagon. Fan interest in the Irishman never seems to decrease.
Instead, everyone is always eager to watch 'The Notorious' work his magic in the cage. UFC 229 is the best-selling PPV in MMA history, and it was headlined by Conor McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov. It will be difficult for any PPV to surpass the record that the event set.
But there is a possibility that a matchup between the former two-division UFC champion and Michael Chandler will overcome it. While doing so is a tall order, this list details five reasons why it's possible.
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#5 The Ultimate Fighter 31
Long before the two of them square off inside the octagon, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will spend weeks together as coaches on the 31st installment of The Ultimate Fighter. The only reason the UFC has scheduled the Irishman's return to coincide with TUF's latest season is the buildup.
McGregor is guaranteed entertainment, and he'll almost certainly use his TUF appearance to trash-talk and get under Chandler's skin. This could lead to a heated rivalry between the pair, least of all after 'Iron' claimed that he'd start a brawl with the Irishman if he insults his family as he did with Dustin Poirier.
One of the key reasons behind the success of UFC 229 was the contentious history between 'The Notorious' and Khabib Nurmagomedov. If this same magic can be recaptured, especially with a native English-speaker like 'Iron', the potential for an entertaining buildup will only heighten the PPV's success.
#4 There is already history between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler
Michael Chandler has been campaigning for a fight against Conor McGregor for some time now. Even before his UFC debut, 'Iron' expressed an interest in facing 'The Notorious'. Now, the three-time Bellator lightweight champion is competing under Dana White's banner.
The time for wishful thinking has long since ended. Since his promotional debut, 'Iron' has taken the opportunity to challenge McGregor in his post-fight interviews in the cage. His repeated callouts have firmly entrenched this matchup in the collective MMA consciousness.
Perhaps no callout was more emphatic than the one from his post-fight interview at UFC 274. This has caused the bout to have a buildup of anticipation that McGregor's past matchups never did.
#3 It will be an entertaining matchup
After the UFC announced that Conor McGregor would face Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229, a large number of fans feared that the bout would be an uneventful wrestling affair. At the time, most fans weren't familiar with 'The Eagle' and mistook him for a lay-and-pray wrestler instead of a punishing grappler.
That same assumption isn't true for the upcoming matchup between Chandler and the former two-division UFC champion. McGregor is known for his highly entertaining, all-offense style. Meanwhile, 'Iron' is known for his reckless and extremely explosive power-punching.
Neither fighter likes taking a backwards step, and nearly every significant striking exchange they engage in is designed with the purpose of KO'ing their opponents. Thus, fans can expect a car crash of sorts once the two men clash. This has caused a level of excitement and eagerness for the bout, generating further interest.
#2 Michael Chandler is a star
Most of the fans who tune in to watch fights and buy PPV events are casual viewers who don't pay any attention to the lesser fight cards. Instead, their interest lies in the likes of Conor McGregor, Jon Jones, Nate Diaz and Jorge Masvidal. The truth of the matter is that Michael Chandler is now in that category.
Due to the explosive and entertaining nature of his fights, 'Iron' has drawn a significant amount of fan interest. The manner in which he fights means that he either flatlines all of his opponents or is knocked out himself. Of the five fights he has had in the UFC, two have earned Fight of the Night honors.
Of his three remaining bouts, two earned him Performance of the Night honors due to thunderous knockouts. But it's not just his thrilling fighting style, it's also Chandler's gift of gab. 'Iron' has carved out a reputation for cutting the best promos in his post-fight interviews. He's a star and more people will tune in to watch him.
#1 Conor McGregor's return
It's been two years since Conor McGregor last set foot inside the octagon. During the Irishman's previous appearance in the cage, he suffered a crippling loss against Dustin Poirier. It was their trilogy bout and 'The Notorious' sustained a brutal leg injury that caused his lower shin to snap in two.
Since then, the former two-division champion has been in the news cycle for one reason or another, none of which, however, have anything to do with a concrete return to the cage—until now. Prior to the UFC's recent announcement, there was only speculation and the occasional claim by McGregor himself.
He now has a scheduled bout. It's no longer a case of whether he'll return this year. With Conor McGregor fighting in 2023, fans are simply waiting to know the exact date. The sport has been without its biggest star for two years. Thus, his return is highly anticipated and might cause the PPV buys to surge.
