CONOR MCGREGOR has been called out for a blockbuster showdown with Michael Chandler, who has told the UFC’s poster boy: Come back to your first love.
McGregor is in the final stages of recovering from the horrific broken leg he suffered in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier last July.
The Irishman is eyeing a return to action early next year, and fan favourite Chandler has thrown his name into the hat to welcome him back to the octagon.
Speaking after his UFC 281 defeat to Poirier, he said: “I think at this point he’ll come back and look at the suitors.
“I don’t think I’m the easiest fight that he could take, but I am the biggest fight that he could take.
“I think Conor McGregor stepping back in the octagon does big numbers no matter what.
“But Conor McGregor stepping inside the octagon with me does staggering numbers.
“I respect him, I would love to see him come back and maybe I’ll be the guy that he comes back and fights.”
McGregor, 34, must first re-enrol in the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool – unless he’s given an exemption by the UFC – for a minimum of six months before he can fight.
Chandler said: “Get on [the drug testing], man. We all know that fighting is his first love.
“Exactly six years ago today, November 12, 2016, he became the double champ and he apologised to absolutely nobody, and it was absolutely awesome.
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“He’s a legend in the sport, he’s the biggest name in the sport and it was bad enough that we had to compete with Bentleys, Bugattis, boats and $100million whiskey companies.
“Now we’ve got to compete with the silver screens and bright lights of Hollywood.
“Come back to your first love Conor, come back and fight against me.”
McGregor has been hard at work in the gym over the last 16 months and feels primed and ready to get back in the cage.
The former simultaneous two-division champion said last month: “I’m going to be back soon, hopefully.
“Early 2023 I’m aiming for. Sometime in that first quarter.
“That will give me a good couple of months [to prepare].
“Once I wrap this up [filming Road House] in a couple of days, get the camp going [for] a good couple of months. And get going.”
