"Power is the last thing to go" - Michael Bisping cautions Michael Chandler about underestimating Conor McGregor before their UFC 303 fight

Michael Bisping has warned Michael Chandler not to underestimate Conor McGregor ahead of their bout.

McGregor vs. Chandler was officially confirmed earlier this month, with the pair set to headline UFC 303 on June 29 to cap off International Fight Week. The announcement finally put an end to months of speculation and marks the highly anticipated return of the Irishman.

'The Notorious' has been out of action since he suffered a devastating leg break during his 2021 trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. The injury required major surgery and rehabilitation, and there were question marks as to whether it could have ended his career.

Although Chandler hasn't been injured, he also took a hiatus from the UFC in order to secure the fight. 'Iron' hasn't stepped into the cage since 2022, when, like McGregor, he lost to Poirier.

Following the confirmation of their bout, Michael Bisping has weighed in and offered his take on the fight on his YouTube channel.

Breaking down the matchup, 'The Count' highlighted both men's absence from the cage in recent years and noted that Chandler must not underestimate McGregor. He said:

"You cannot be drunk on your own ego. Michael Chandler is an entertainer...The man is explosive, every single time he fights he is phenomenal, win or lose...But he has to respect what McGregor is going to do and the threat coming back at him."

"Three years away [For McGregor] it will affect timing, it will affect speed...Three years is a long time. I do think a few things will be off but power is the last thing to go."

Catch Bisping's comments here (2:15):

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Michael Chandler defends his decision to wait for Conor McGregor fight

Michael Chandler has defended his decision to wait to secure a bout against Conor McGregor.

'Iron's' patience has meant he has been out of action for 18 months, and it saw him come under fire from a host of fighters and fans. The general consensus was that Chandler was foolish to wait for a fight that may never happen.

Following the confirmation of his clash against McGregor, however, Chandler has now hit back at those that doubted him. Speaking in a recent episode of The Shawn Ryan Show, Chandler stated that anybody else in his position would have done the same, even if they won't admit it. He said:

"Anybody in the sport of mixed martial arts, whether they are lying to you or not… they would have done exactly what I did. Trust me they’re all full of envy. They can act like they’re tough guys, and they would’ve fought four times in the time that I sat out. Maybe I missed out on one or two fights, but none of them are gonna even hold a candle to what is about to happen June 29th."

Catch Michael Chandler's comments here: