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Michael Chandler will face Conor McGregor in the former double champ's highly anticipated return to the octagon after the two fighters coach opposing teams on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter. The No.5-ranked lightweight has set high expectations for how the bout's pay-per-view performance will fare.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, Chandler stated:
"Could be the biggest pay-per-view that we've ever seen. Obviously, I am a wishful thinker, I have confident expectancy for myself to show up and build this thing. Conor knows how to build things so we're about to have a blast."
When asked if he thinks two million pay-per-view buys is feasible, Chandler joked that five million is a possibility before adding:
"Traditionally, if you look at the numbers, I think two million [pay-per-view buys] is not just a possibility, I think it's very, very acheivable and very attainable... I think what I've created is this level of intrigue and mystique that when I show up on fight night and that cage door closes, all he** breaks loose and my foot is on the gas. I haven't seen a break pedal at all since I signed with the organization. Honestly, since I started fighting."
The only fight in UFC history that has had over two million pay-per-view buys was the UFC 229 lightweight title bout between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov, which reportedly had 2.4 million pay-per-view buys. While the hype that UFC 229 had will be hard to match, appearing on The Ultimate Fighter for several months will likely increase interest in Chandler's upcoming bout with the Irishman.
Watch Michael Chandler share his expectations for the Conor McGregor fight below:
Michael Chandler gives prediction for Conor McGregor fight
Michael Chandler has set high expectations for the pay-per-view performance of his upcoming bout with Conor McGregor. The No.5-ranked lightweight also has lofty expectations for the outcome of the fight, as he shared with Brett Okamoto of ESPN MMA, stating:
"I'm going to get in his space right away and make him take a backward step right away, and he's going to feel my presence from the very beginning of the fight and then from there wherever the fight takes us. If I want to pick him up and put him down, I can pick him up and put him down, and put a beating on him, and get a submission that way. I believe I finish Conor in the second round."
McGregor has not won a fight since 2016. However, a victory will likely earn him a title opportunity. Chandler is 1-3 in his last four fights. However, his losses have come in highly entertaining bouts against the best of the division.
Watch Michael Chandler discuss his upcoming bout with Conor McGregor below (starting at the 29:15 mark):
