Michael Chandler’s long pursuit of a fight with Conor McGregor has hit another wall, as McGregor is now booked to face Max Holloway in a rematch at UFC 329.
Chandler spent more than two years waiting for a McGregor bout that did not materialize after their rivalry on The Ultimate Fighter, with matchmakers ultimately separating the pair. Instead, McGregor was matched with Holloway in a rematch of their 2013 fight.
Speaking about Chandler’s situation, Holloway said, "I mean, I saw a couple of interviews of him saying he believed he’s going to get the fight," before adding, "I would say, yeah, keep hoping, man. He’s a strong believer. Anything could happen, bro. Look, I’ve been calling Conor out for a minute and I thought this fight was never gonna happen. I thought the fight was gonna happen five to eight years ago. Now you’re telling me 13 years later I’m rematching this guy after everything that he ran into and what’s going on in life. Now we’re here, it’s crazy. To Chandler, you know, keep training, you never know what happens."
Chandler, now 40 and holding a 23-11 record, is currently on a four-fight losing streak, with three of those defeats coming by knockout or submission. Despite fans calling for him to retire based on recent performances, he is described as well liked by UFC leadership and is expected to get another fight in 2026.
