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In just under two weeks' time, Michael Chandler should've been ready to face off with Conor McGregor. However, due to injury, 'The Notorious' has been forced out of the bout.
Michael Chandler has now withdrawn from UFC 303 in his own right, and it looks like the former Bellator star is willing to wait around for the Irishman. A recent report, though, has suggested that Dana White is willing to give 'Iron Mike' a different fight if he wants it.
A fight with McGregor would undoubtedly represent a huge chance - and payday - for Chandler. At this stage, though, should he really wait around for 'The Notorious'?
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The answer is no, and here are five reasons why Michael Chandler should move on from the bout.
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#5. Michael Chandler needs to get paid
Probably the biggest reason that Michael Chandler is willing to sit out and wait for his fight with Conor McGregor is the financial boost the fight could bring.
McGregor is the biggest star in UFC history, and he's described a fight with him as "red panty night" in reference to the money his opponents can make against him.
A pay-per-view headlined by 'The Notorious' and 'Iron Mike' would likely draw a huge number of buys. Assuming Chandler has pay-per-view points written into his contract, it could represent a career high payday for him.
However, it's now been almost two years since the former Bellator champion's last fight. Reports suggest that he's paid somewhere around $500k per fight, but while that seems substantial, it's difficult to guess how badly Chandler now needs money.
By waiting for McGregor again, it could be another six months before 'Iron Mike' gets paid, and that seems like a risk. Surely, then, it'd be smarter for him to take a fight in the meantime and look to win and set up the McGregor fight afterwards, if only to top up his bank account.
#4. Michael Chandler could be rusty by the time he finally returns
Time famously flies in the world of MMA, and that's certainly the case for Michael Chandler. While his fight with Dustin Poirier doesn't feel that long ago, it actually took place in November 2022.
Almost two years have now gone by since that fight. While sitting out for that amount of time isn't unheard of in the UFC, it does carry a huge amount of risk.
Based on the fights that have been announced for the promotion's upcoming pay-per-views, it seems like the fight between Chandler and Conor McGregor could take place in the later part of 2024, at best.
If Chandler waits around for that long, he definitely risks being rusty by the time the fight comes around.
Sure, the same could also be said for McGregor, who hasn't fought since the summer of 2021, but that's beside the point. To maximise his chances of beating 'The Notorious', Chandler would probably be smart to take a fight in the interim to sharpen himself up.
#3. By sitting out, Michael Chandler risks becoming yesterday's news
In the world of the UFC, you're basically only as good as your last fight. While this phrase usually means that a recent win counts for everything, it can also be applied to star power, too.
Michael Chandler hasn't fought in the best part of two years. In contrast, for instance, Alex Pereira - who has replaced Chandler in UFC 303's headliner - featured his first main event on the night that 'Iron Mike' fought Dustin Poirier.
Since then, 'Poatan' has won and lost titles and has become one of the UFC's biggest stars. Ikram Aliskerov, meanwhile, who could become a superstar if he can beat Robert Whittaker this weekend, hadn't even made his octagon debut!
Essentially, if Chandler has to wait another six months for his fight with Conor McGregor, he risks becoming a forgotten man in the eyes of the fans.
That won't happen to 'The Notorious', who has transcended the sport of MMA. Chandler, though, could simply become a random foe for the Irishman, with fans forgetting his epic bouts with Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
If Chandler wants to get back into the forefront of the mind of the fans, he'd be better off to move on from the McGregor bout and take a fight soon. A win would put him back in line for 'The Notorious' anyway, and it'd make their eventual clash a whole lot bigger.
#2. At the age of 38, Michael Chandler is getting no younger
One thing about Michael Chandler that's well worth noting is that in terms of MMA fighters, he's not a young man by any means.
Sure, it doesn't seem that 'Iron Mike' has been around the UFC that long, purely because he only debuted in the octagon in 2021.
However, his MMA career dates back all the way to 2009, his famous brawl with Eddie Alvarez took place in 2011 - 13 years ago - and he's got 31 bouts under his belt. More importantly, he also turned 38 in April, which makes him the seventh-oldest lightweight on the UFC's roster.
Chandler has not looked "old" in his fights just yet. He's lost three of his five octagon bouts, but was competitive in all of his defeats, and there's no shame in losing to Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje or Charles Oliveira.
However, it's a simple fact that 'Iron Mike' may be edging towards the end of his athletic prime, and to spend any more of that period on the shelf waiting for Conor McGregor might be dangerous.
Even if the fight with 'The Notorious' happens six months down the line, it could be enough for Father Time to catch up with Chandler. With that in mind, he'd be better off getting back into the saddle sooner, rather than later, even if that means not waiting for McGregor.
#1. Michael Chandler could be waiting for Conor McGregor forever
The biggest reason why Michael Chandler should look to move on from his fight with Conor McGregor - at least temporarily - is the fact that he could be waiting for the Irishman forever.
'The Notorious' has now not fought since the summer of 2021, almost three years ago. While a large amount of that period of time was spent rehabbing the leg injury he suffered against Dustin Poirier, he's theoretically been ready to return for some time now and still hasn't.
We don't really know what has caused this most recent setback, but what we do know is that Dana White has already been coy on the Irishman's future, refusing to discuss it.
With all kinds of rumors swirling around McGregor's status right now, there's every chance that he doesn't actually fight again. More worryingly, we could well see a repeat of the current situation, with the Chandler fight being booked, only to fall through at the last second.
If he does get to fight 'The Notorious', 'Iron Mike' could, admittedly, be in for a career-high payday. However, risking basically the final prime years of his career waiting for a fight that may never come is not the best idea.
Therefore, Chandler would be best to let this fight go, for now at least, and pursue another opponent. If he wins, the McGregor fight could still be waiting for him, depending on the Irishman's status.
