Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler, UFC
Nasir Jabbar
Michael Chandler has suggested a brand-new UFC title could be on the line for when he welcomes Conor McGregor back to the Octagon.
After UFC 300, Dana White officially announced McGregor vs. Chandler for UFC 303's International Fight Week card on June 29.
It will be the Irishman's first fight since his crushing first-round defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 back in July 2021.
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Chandler was in Las Vegas for UFC 300 and spoke to the press about his match-up with the 'Notorious'.
And he teased that the UFC could create a brand-new belt for their UFC 303 showdown.
The 37-year-old revealed that he and McGregor could be fighting for the promotion's inaugural 165lbs title (light-welterweight), which has also been proposed by UFC legend Daniel Cormier.
"That was one of the rumours as well, the 165 belt, obviously, that has not happened," said Chandler.
"Even me in this position, man, I would not be surprised if that bout agreement comes over and it says for the 165 title. You never know because the UFC has to keep a lot of things secret.
"Even to us, right? I mean, you saw Conor broke the announcement again before the UFC did it. I’m sure the UFC said, 'Hey, don’t do it because we’re gonna do it at the post-fight press conference'.
"They want to hold a lot of the information. We knew the date. I knew what the weight class most likely was going to be, and then they sent it over. It should be for a belt, but we’ll see if we can’t make one up."
If McGregor vs. Chandler isn't at 165lbs, then the bout will be contested at 170lbs (welterweight), which is perfect for the American fighter.
"I think 170 is perfect," he added. "155 is not easy to make. So, fighting at 170 is gonna be kind of a perfect camp, honestly. I weigh about 190. Getting down to 170 is kind of gonna be easy compared to 155, obviously.
"I think I’ll compete phenomenally there. I'm still gonna do the exact same camp. I’m still gonna get my weight similar to where I would be at 155, I just won’t dehydrate myself at the end.
"So, I wanna stay big, I wanna stay strong, wanna stay explosive. So, I think 170 is gonna be perfect."