Michael Chandler gives his take on Conor McGregor 'conspiracy theory' in strong statement

In a lengthy post on social media, Michael Chandler has rubbished claims that Conor McGregor came into his fight against Max Holloway with an injury.

McGregor made his long-awaited comeback in the main event at UFC 329 on Sunday but after a five-year spell away from the company, the former two-division champion's return ended prematurely.

In fact, his return against Holloway lasted just 69 seconds after his knee appeared to give way when he missed a wild jumping roundhouse kick in the opening exchange of the contest.

McGregor confirmed on Monday evening that he will have surgery on the injury.

"All things work out for my good! All things are possible for me because I am a believer!" he wrote on Instagram. "Surgery. Prehab. Return to martial arts practice. Go again. Final fight of the contract. Please God!"

If he manages to recover in time for the final fight of his contract, McGregor could face old foe Michael Chandler, who was scheduled to face the Irishman at UFC 303 before it was cancelled because of an injury to McGregor.

Chandler, who believes a fight with 'The Notorious' will still happen, has now given his "two cents" on the theory that McGregor was injured in the build-up.

Michael Chandler was in attendance at UFC 329. Image credit: Getty

Speaking in a video on his official Instagram page, Chandler said: “I would be absolutely surprised, like the most surprised on the planet, if Conor just showed up for a paycheck, limped in there and said, ‘I don’t care, I’ll give you guys one minute, shave my head into a mohawk, show up, do the intros and then just bow out a minute later.

"You can say what you want about Conor, but one thing he is not, is a quitter, one thing he is not, is a bamboozler. The body is unpredictable and every fight is unpredictable and if you look at Conor, (he always comes out with a kick)."

A full transcript of Michael Chandler's take on the Conor McGregor 'conspiracy theory'

"A lot of speculation is going on out there. A lot of people are disappointed about how the fight went," Chandler began.

"There are plenty of conspiracy theories, and I understand why people are upset. I understand they're let down by this massive return that everybody wanted to see and be entertained by.

"We're missing the fact that this is a crazy sport where fighters push their bodies to the limit. They're constantly contorting themselves and absorbing huge amounts of force.

"A guy like Conor comes out in the first few seconds, jumps across the cage, twists his body, throws a kick, lands awkwardly and his leg buckles. He throws another kick, it buckles again. He throws a punch and it buckles again.

"Then everybody starts asking: Was Conor already injured before the fight? Did he show up just for the paycheck without caring how it looked?

"I'd be the most surprised person on the planet if Conor simply turned up for the money, walked in with a mohawk, did the introductions and planned to quit after a minute.

"You can say what you want about Conor. His mistakes are well documented. His shortcomings over the past 15 years are well documented. But one thing he isn't is a quitter. And one thing he isn't is someone who deceives people by showing up injured with the intention of pulling out a minute into a fight.

"He'll make you look left while he's doing something on the right to build hype, storylines and excitement, but he's not the type of guy who's going to intentionally show up injured and bow out after a minute.

"The UFC isn't the kind of organisation that's going to have conversations behind closed doors and say, "Let's get everyone to buy the pay-per-view and then have you quit after a minute." "That's just not how they operate.

"I understand the speculation. I understand the conspiracy theories. People are analysing every frame, slowing videos down, reversing them and looking at different angles to figure out whether Conor tripped over his shoes or whether footage of him walking into a rehab clinic or hospital proves something.

"The reality is, the human body is unpredictable."

Chandler continued: "Sometimes you watch a fight, see the way someone absorbs punishment or twists awkwardly and think, 'He must have come into that fight injured,' but he's completely fine.

"Other times you see what looks like almost nothing happen during an exchange—grappling, wrestling, punches, kicks, knees or elbows—and somehow a fighter gets injured.

"We've all seen clips slowed down frame by frame where it looks like a punch barely landed, yet the fighter collapses.

"The body can withstand an incredible amount of damage and contortion, then suddenly fail from what seems like the smallest shot or misstep. A fighter who's been durable for years can take one awkward step or one glancing blow and suddenly something gives way.

"That's what I'm getting at: the body is unpredictable, and every fight is unpredictable.

"I've also heard people asking, 'Why would Conor come out like that? Why jump across the cage and throw a kick immediately?' Because that's what Conor always does.

"Every time I prepared to fight him, I expected some kind of spinning wheel kick, flying knee or Superman punch within the opening minutes.

"He threw a Superman punch against Cowboy Cerrone within the first few seconds. In multiple fights he's thrown spinning wheel kicks almost immediately. He likes to put opponents on the back foot and do something spectacular straight away to remind them they're in the Octagon with Conor McGregor.

"He's trying to establish dominance from the opening bell. All the doubts and nerves you've built up before the fight suddenly become real because you're locked in the cage with him, and then he throws something explosive.

"So when people ask why he did it, the answer is simple: because that's what he always does.

"The difference is he'd been away for five years. It was probably the first time he'd thrown that kick at full intensity in a real fight.

"There are videos of him throwing the exact same kick in training, but training and competition aren't the same. Even when you think you're going 100 per cent in the gym, your body finds another gear in an actual fight. You become faster, more explosive and more committed.

"That's my take on it.

"I don't believe he came into the fight carrying a pre-existing injury. I've seen the videos and I understand why people are asking questions. But just because he stumbled slightly while taking his shoes off doesn't mean his leg was compromised.

"For one thing, he wasn't wearing socks. His sweaty feet were stuck inside his shoes. Everyone knows what that's like. It's like trying to put a shirt on when your body's already covered in sweat. It's almost impossible. That's how I see it."