Conor McGregor and Justin Gaethje tease fight; What about Michael Chandler?

Conor McGregor took aim at Justin Gaethje over the weekend, following one of Gaethje’s biggest victories of his career. This despite McGregor having agreed to coach opposite Michael Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter with a bout in the Octagon to follow. So what gives?

Gaethje headlined UFC 291 opposite Dustin Poirier, where he landed a spectacular head kick knockout. With the win, Gaethje earned the BMF title and inserted himself as the likely next contender to the UFC lightweight title, which Islam Makhachev is set to defend opposite Charles Oliveira in October.

Immediately after the victory, McGregor went on a Twitter tirade. (Or was it an X raid? Pun intended.) He laid into Gaethje and Poirier, calling out Gaethje to fight and even saying “F**k Chandler,” casting even more gloom on an already shadowy situation with Chandler.

“Sign the contract, big boy.”

– Justin Gaethje

Did Conor McGregor conjure up a fight with Justin Gaethje?

Gaethje didn’t seem to want anything to do with McGregor, whom he insinuated may have used steroids and he called a cheat. But McGregor didn’t relent, saying he’d land a one-punch knockout of Gaethje.

That led Gaethje to respond on Twitter, saying, “Sign the contract, big boy.” 

Sign the contract big boy. https://t.co/LZIv3x0su9

— Justin Gaethje 🇺🇸 (@Justin_Gaethje) August 1, 2023

McGregor retorted with a Twitter response that simply said, “Signed,” but included an autographed photo of himself. Again, he left the entire situation open to speculation, though it is highly unlikely that a contract was ready to go that quickly after Gaethje’s fight, and especially with UFC president Dana White being on vacation during UFC 291.

Signed. pic.twitter.com/SJKKDuoVYk

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 2, 2023

Michael Chandler responds to Conor McGregor vs. Justin Gaethje speculation

With Conor McGregor already sidestepping his re-entry into the USADA drug testing pool, which he must be in for six months before fighting again, Chandler should be joining everyone else in wondering what the heck is going on. Is McGregor really going to return to the Octagon? Will he fight Chandler as promised? Or will he sidestep Chandler and take whatever fight he wants?

“I think it’s gonna be me and Conor, that’s it.”

– Michael Chandler

Chandler insists he’s not concerned and that he believes the fight will happen. Perhaps he’s just putting on a brave face as the money fight fades into oblivion, but it could be that he has a better insight than any of us.

“He’s gonna get his little Twitter fingers going on the weekends, every single time there’s a fight, and insert himself into the conversation,” Chandler said on ESPN following the most recent episode of The Ultimate Fighter.

“But I’m not really that worried about it. I believe the fight is happening. The fight makes too much sense for it not to happen. I’m still the most entertaining guy on the dadgum roster. Everybody wants to see the greatest comeback in combat sports history. So, I think it’s gonna be me and Conor, that’s it.”