ANAHEIM, Calif. – Michael Chandler wants the Conor McGregor matchup so badly, he’ll nearly turn purple asking for it.
Two days after Saturday’s UFC 298 at Honda Center, WWE Monday Night RAW held an event in the same venue. Chandler (23-8 MMA, 18-5 UFC) was not only featured prominently on the broadcast, he grabbed the microphone and cut an intense promo, which MMA Junkie was onsite for.
“What’s up, Anaheim? You are now in the presence of the most entertaining UFC fighter on the planet,” Chandler yelled in the microphone, as his face increasingly reddened. “Hey, now there’s a man from Ireland who’s been making me wait way too long and I still have got one dude on my mind. Conor McGregor, get your candy ass back to the octagon. We’ve got some unfinished business, boys. God bless. I’ll see you at the top.”
Chandler has been in a waiting pattern for well over a year as he awaits a teased but never confirmed fight booking against McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who remains on hiatus since a broken leg in 2021.
Look who it is on #WWERaw!@MikeChandlerMMA just cut a promo calling for @TheNotoriousMMA
(: @SJSamano) pic.twitter.com/NnAPiyrUWX
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) February 20, 2024
WHOA! @MikeChandlerMMA just called out @TheNotoriousMMA on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/pUN2dUFW1r
— WWE (@WWE) February 20, 2024
Outside of advertisements and occasional spectator appearances, blatant crossover content like Chandler’s callout hadn’t occurred since WWE and UFC merged under the TKO banner in 2023.
As for a matchup between Chandler and McGregor, it’s unclear when that fight will happen – if ever.
UFC CEO Dana White has recently said he hopes the fight can finally take place in the fall, though also indicated Saturday he’s not sure it’ll happen.
“I don’t know. Conor McGregor’s got a lot of money,” White said. “Any time we get Conor, we’ll be happy. You know, we’ll be thrilled when he comes and fights,” White said. “Money complicates a lot of things. He just filmed a movie. He’s got to do the press for the movie, and he’s got obligations with that. He does want to fight this year, but we’ll see what happens.”
