Conor McGregor will fight Leon Edwards if he beats Michael Chandler at UFC 303, says Michael Bisping
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Published 26/05/2024 at 21:37 GMT
Conor McGregor could make a resurgence right back to the top of UFC, should he overcome Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 30. McGregor takes on Chandler in Las Vegas, and Bisping says the former featherweight and lightweight champion will want to add a welterweight title to his resume. Bisping also looked ahead to a tantalising bout between Michael 'Venom' Page and Ian Machado Garry.
Conor McGregor
Image credit: Getty Images
Michael Bisping believes Conor McGregor will propel himself towards a welterweight title fight against Leon Edwards if he emerges victorious against Michael Chandler at UFC 303.
McGregor makes a highly anticipated return to top the card in Las Vegas, after last fighting in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier.
And Bisping explained that the Irishman will have his sights set on British star Edwards.
“Conor McGregor, if he comes back and beats Michael Chandler, whether you like it or not, the man has three fights and three titles that he could compete for: 155, 170 and a BMF,” Bisping told TNT Sports.
“You know which one he's going to take, he's going to take the welterweight option - he's going to take Leon Edwards.
“He even said this week that ‘Nate Diaz almost knocked out Leon Edwards in the fifth round, so if he can do that, I can do that.’
“But regardless, if Michael 'Venom' Page wins [v Ian Machado Garry, also at UFC 303] then you never know, maybe he [Page] gets to fight Leon Edwards.”
Edwards also had his say on the prospect of fighting McGregor in an interview on The MMA Hour, and welcome a fight with the Irishman should he get past Belal Muhammad at UFC 304 in Manchester on July 27.
“One hundred percent. Why not? Let’s give him the opportunity to become three-division world champion,” Edwards said recently on The MMA Hour.
“Give me the opportunity to take out a guy like Conor McGregor. New York, that would be perfect. That is the fight. I feel like he’s got to take out Michael, I take out ‘No-one-remembers-his-name’ and we’ll go from there. We’ll go to New York, MSG, let’s go!
“That’s the fight. We’ve got business to take care of, but that’s the fight. That’s what needs to happen and it should happen.”
Garry 'polarising people, but who cares?'
Meanwhile, Garry and Michael 'Venom' Page will go head-to-head on the same card as McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena, and Bisping looked ahead to an intriguing bout.
“I love this match-up; that's why I called for it when they both had their last wins,” he added.
“Michael 'Venom' Page versus Ian Garry, stylistically this is going to be a treat. Ian Garry is flying, he's undefeated in general, he's undefeated in the UFC and he's polarising people, but who cares?
“A lot of people are talking about him, and if he beats Michael 'Venom' Page, it's another massive win for him.
“For Michael 'Venom' Page at 37 years old, he said when he came here that he didn't want to mess around. He got the job done against Kevin Holland in signature Michael 'Venom' Page style and now gets Ian Garry.
“This does a lot towards fast-tracking him towards the title and a fight against Leon Edwards.
"If he can beat Ian Garry then he's right there and in the mix in just two fights. What an ascension this would be.”
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