Speaking on the My Mom's Basement podcast, McGregor said, "There’s still a competitive fire. I’m still going to mince him. I know he’s going to try and throw everything into his shots also but there’s still admiration." McGregor went on to say that he had respect for Chandler going into the show, and the two had a good buzz between them. McGregor is looking forward to proving he is still one of the best fighters in the world, and he plans to use Chandler as a way to send his message to the world.
McGregor and Chandler's rivalry was revealed by UFC President Dana White, who said that the two fighters "do not like each other" after their incident during production. McGregor acknowledged that the show's competitive nature could bring out the best and worst in fighters, but he believes that they should be able to separate their issues from the sport. McGregor hopes to have a nice consecutive run of bouts, saying, "I’ve got a lot of exciting fights. I’ve got some rivalries. You’ve got guys on the climb. You’ve got guys [in] divisions that are supposed to be the best this and that in the division. There’s loads of bouts that I could have, and I’m excited about every single one of them. That’s it. Please God, we can make it happen."
McGregor is excited to get back into the fighting environment after spending the better part of the past two years recovering from a devastating broken leg suffered in his last outing against Dustin Poirier. McGregor was happy with his experience during TUF 31, which is the second time he has coached on the show after previously appearing on season 22 when he went against UFC Hall of Famer Urijah Faber. He was immersed in the training with the lads and was sparring as they were sparring. McGregor believes that he is too slick and skilled for Chandler and that he has fought someone like him before.
The upcoming fight between McGregor and Chandler is still awaiting a date, location, and even a weight class, but McGregor is eager to get started. He hopes that his appearance on TUF 31 and the upcoming fight against Chandler will serve as a catalyst for a much busier couple of years ahead for him. McGregor is one of the biggest names in the UFC, and his fights always generate a lot of excitement and anticipation among fans. UFC enthusiasts eagerly await the announcement of the date and location of the fight between McGregor and Chandler, which promises to be one of the most exciting fights of the year.