Michael Chandler remains undeterred by recent setbacks and is positioning himself as a cornerstone for the UFC’s upcoming historic event at the White House. The former three-time Bellator lightweight champion, who is currently navigating a three-fight losing streak, believes his reputation as one of the sport’s most reliable action fighters makes him indispensable for such a high-stakes occasion.
Speaking to reporters ahead of Super Bowl weekend, Chandler expressed absolute confidence that he will be competing on the White House lawn on June 14, regardless of who stands across the cage from him. Chandler’s most recent octagon appearance was a stoppage loss to Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 this past April.
However, “Iron” Mike offered new insight regarding that defeat, revealing that he accepted the bout on short notice while still recovering from an injury. He described himself as a “shell” of the fighter he could have been, implying that a healthy training camp would yield a vastly different result in a potential rematch.
While he acknowledged that the timing might not be perfect for a second crack at Pimblett immediately, he noted that the narrative is far from over. The topic of Conor McGregor dominated the conversation. Despite UFC CEO Dana White publicly shutting down the idea of a rescheduled bout between the two rival coaches from The Ultimate Fighter Season 31, Chandler refuses to let the dream die.
He admitted that fans might call him “delirious” for holding onto hope, but he insists on controlling what he can control. For Chandler, the door isn’t closed until it is locked and the key is thrown away, and he remains ready to step in should the Irish superstar finally commit to a return date.
Michael Chandler is hoping for a BMF title fight at UFC White House card
“I think no matter what, I think I’m a shoo-in, I’m a first-ballot choice for being on the White House card,” Chandler told MMA Fighting. “When you have the White House, a card this big and historic, it’s not just about putting on the best fights. It’s about putting on the most reliable guys that you possibly can to make sure they actually show up to fight.
“As far as the Conor stuff, you have heard what has been said publicly. Is that what’s going to happen? We don’t know. All I know is I can control what I can control. We’ll see how it happens. I’m going to stay busy, like we just talked about, going up to the big game this weekend. I’m just going to stay busy, and when I get the phone call, I get the phone call. And either way, I think I’ll be on the White House lawn on June 14.”
If the McGregor fight fails to materialize, Chandler has other targets in mind to match the White House setting. He floated the idea of challenging for the “BMF” belt, potentially against Max Holloway if the Hawaiian gets past Charles Oliveira.
He also reminisced about his 2021 Fight of the Year with Justin Gaethje, though he notedthat Gaethje’s current status as interim champion likely takes him out of the running for a non-title showcase. Regardless of the opponent, Chandler’s message was clear: he plans to stay busy, stay ready, and answer the call when the UFC finalizes its plans for the summer show.
