5 ways Michael Chandler's UFC career could've gone if he hadn't waited for Conor McGregor

Michael Chandler's career has been majorly impacted by Conor McGregor, irrespective of whether or not their long-awaited fight materializes. Chandler, an ex-Bellator lightweight champion, made his UFC debut in January 2021 on a card headlined by McGregor.

From November 2022 to November 2024, Chandler didn't partake in any professional MMA bout. He rolled the dice in pursuit of the McGregor money fight!

Chandler waited on the sidelines for a potential fight against the combat sports megastar and former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion. He even served as a coach on 'The Ultimate Fighter Season 31', opposite rival coach McGregor.

They were finally booked to clash in a welterweight bout at UFC 303 (June 2024), but McGregor was ruled out due to a toe injury. Chandler later decided that he had waited enough and signed on for a rematch against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 (November 2024). He lost the thrilling showdown via unanimous decision, but earned praise for resuming his career rather than wait for McGregor.

Nevertheless, Chandler issued another call-out to McGregor after being outpointed in his rematch against Oliveira. With 'The Notorious' hinting at a potential boxing match against Logan Paul in India in 2025, Chandler might wait again or could continue fighting other opponents until the Irishman finally returns.

Many fans and experts believe that the two years he waited on the sidelines were a huge loss for him. Today, we texaminefive ways Chandler's career could've potentially gone if he hadn't waited for McGregor.

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#5 Did someone say rematch?

Michael Chandler's rematch against Charles Oliveira in 2024 was a barnburner. However, some observers speculated about how Chandler almost turned the tables in the fifth and final round, by hurting 'Do Bronx' with his punches and almost knocking him out before ultimately losing on the scorecards. Perhaps ring rust did cause a rusty 'Iron' (no pun intended) to show up in November 2024.

Had Chandler competed in the November 2022-November 2024 timeframe, ring rust probably wouldn't have been an issue. Also, Chandler likely missed out on a golden period that could've seen him compete in a possible rematch against Justin Gaethje, Dustin Poirier, or maybe both!

Chandler suffered a unanimous decision defeat in a back-and-forth fight against Gaethje in November 2021. 'Iron' was then submitted by Poirier in another closely contested contest in November 2022.

Presently, Gaethje is coming off a vicious fifth-round knockout defeat against Max Holloway in April 2024. 'The Highlight' recently turned down Chandler's call-out for a rematch. Also, Poirier last suffered a heartbreaking fifth-round submission loss against Islam Makhachev in June 2024. Poirier has lately been hinting at retiring after his next fight.

Presently, Chandler's potential rematches against Gaethje and Poirier lack the buzz they'd have had back when the latter duo had greater momentum.

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#4 Michael Chandler could've fought for the BMF belt

There have been just three symbolic BMF championship matches thus far. Jorge Masvidal became the inaugural BMF champion with a TKO of Nate Diaz in November 2019.

After Masvidal's retirement (which he plans to end in 2025) in 2023, Justin Gaethje knocked out Dustin Poirier in their rematch in July 2023 to capture the vacant BMF title. Gaethje then lost it to Max Holloway via knockout in April 2024.

Had Michael Chandler steered clear from his Conor McGregor fight detour, he could've possibly challenged Gaethje for the vacant BMF championship in July 2023. Now, maybe some would argue that Poirier's first encounter against Gaethje was also exciting and that he'd beaten Chandler in 2022, so he was more deserving of the BMF spot against Gaethje.

Fair enough. Regardless, he could've at least bagged a shot at the BMF belt in 2024. A well-spoken, charismatic, and established star like Chandler could've surely been booked to face Gaethje at the landmark UFC 300 event in April 2024.

Rather than Max Holloway, Michael Chandler could've gotten the opportunity to challenge Gaethje for the BMF belt last April, avenge his 2021 points defeat, and capture the coveted BMF belt. Intriguingly, in November 2024, Chandler called Holloway out for a BMF title fight.

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#3 Fresh fights against rising lightweight stars, grudge match against Arman Tsarukyan

The UFC lightweight (155-pound) division has long been considered one of the most talent-rich weight classes. Legendary fighters like B.J. Penn, Frankie Edgar, Eddie Alvarez, Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, and others have held the UFC lightweight championship.

Michael Chandler would've had no shortage of fresh matchups at lightweight (he still has many options!). Rather than rematches against fellow veterans like Justin Gaethje and Dustin Poirier, Chandler could've opted for fresh fights against rising lightweights like Rafael Fiziev and Benoit Saint-Denis, maybe even against Paddy 'The Baddy' Pimblett who he was recently linked with as a potential opponent.

Arguably, the most intriguing lightweight opponent for Chandler during the November 2022-November 2024 period would've been Arman Tsarukyan. Presently, Tsarukyan is booked to face reigning UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev in a rematch for the title at UFC 311 on Jan. 18, 2025.

Arman Tsarukyan and Michael Chandler have traded several barbs. A grudge match between the new generation and the old guard would've been nothing short of epic. A victory thereto could've earned Chandler a title shot.

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#2 A UFC lightweight title shot against Islam Makhachev

Michael Chandler had once famously suggested that his American amateur wrestling was better than the Russian combat sambo, implying that his grappling would beat Islam Makhachev's grappling.

Chandler has given Makhachev his props, especially in recent times, but their rivalry could've led to a major opening for 'Iron' back in 2023 or 2024. The American combatant is a master orator and deft at hyping up his fights and rivalries. As such, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to state that he'd have hyped and fought his way into a grudge match against his Dagestani foe.

Islam Makhachev is 33 years of age, whereas Chandler is 38. Even a couple of years back, 'Iron' would've been in his mid-to-late thirties. It's considered to be an age range when fighters, especially in the lightweight weight classes, generally experience a decline in their athleticism.

Nevertheless, Chandler is different! He's an athletic specimen, and a potential grudge match featuring him and Makhachev could've been a truly exciting fight for the MMA community.

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#1 Michael Chandler could've settled into a UFC analyst role, ventured into the BKFC

Michael Chandler cuts promos that'd give most professional wrestlers, even some of the top-tier microphone savants in the WWE, a run for their money. Ironically, he'd even appeared on WWE RAW and cut a promo against Conor McGregor in early 2024.

Setting his long-awaited potential fight against McGregor aside, Chandler could've actively pursued other roles in the UFC organization rather than going through training camps for a fight that kept getting postponed. His gift of gab and wealth of MMA knowledge most definitely make 'Iron' a perfect fit in the UFC analyst panels.

Even if he'd fought and lost a title fight against Makhachev, his conversationalism would've solidified his spot as a UFC analyst, had he chosen to go down that route.

Alternatively, he could've then tried his hand in the sport of bare-knuckle boxing in the BKFC, akin to many other fellow ex-UFC stars. It'd have been ironic, however, as McGregor was announced as BKFC's new co-owner in 2024.

Well, all is not lost yet! Michael Chandler was recently called out by former Bellator and UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez, whom he went 1-1 against under the Bellator MMA banner back in the day. Alvarez recently suggested that Chandler could exit the UFC, and they could clash in a trilogy fight, albeit under bare-knuckle boxing rules in the BKFC.