Michael Chandler (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Michael Chandler has expressed some frustration over the fact he has no set date for an expected fight with Conor McGregor. But, he remains confident the tilt will happen inside of six months.

The stars coached opposite one another during the latest season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, and the original expectation was that the two would fight in 2023. But, since McGregor has reportedly not re-entered the USADA testing program, there has been extensive speculation as to whether the fight will happen this year. USADA requires fighters to be tested for six months after they exit and return to the program.

Recently, Chandler spoke with Daniel Cormier, and the former Bellator champ said he would be surprised if McGregor didn’t end up fighting (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“I’m a fighter’s guy, I’m a fighter’s fighter, there’s a reason people love to watch me fight, the reason they tune in. I think Conor’s coming back. I don’t think he wants to stain his legacy by leading us all down this road of ‘I’m doing The Ultimate Fighter, I’m fighting Michael Chandler. Oh, by the way, never mind. I’m not coming back. Make sure you buy my Irish whiskey’ and all that kind of stuff.

“He’s coming back. Yeah, supposedly, there was a countdown with USADA, six months, and all that other stuff. That’s not for me to choose or decide. People are talking about exemptions, of course, that’s all on the table. All I know is I’m controlling the controllables and I also know that either way, I’m gonna keep on moving forward and I do believe I fight Conor within the next six months. It’s gonna be one of the biggest pay-per-views that we have ever seen, and I’m gonna go out there and knock him out within the first two rounds.”

McGregor hasn’t fought since July, 2021, when he broke his leg in a bout with Dustin Poirier. The former featherweight and lightweight champ ended up leaving the USADA testing pool, as he recovered from the injury.

In May, USADA announced it had been in contact with McGregor’s camp and that they expected him to re-enter the testing program soon.