Renato Moicano reacts to ‘dumb’ Michael Chandler giving up on fight with ‘MMA’s biggest troll’ Conor McGregor

Michael Chandler won’t face Conor McGregor in 2024, and UFC Paris headliner Renato Moicano is “surprised” that the former Bellator champion has given up on waiting for UFC’s biggest star.

Chandler called for a fight with “The Notorious” after knocking out Tony Ferguson in May 2022, and was given the opportunity after losing his following bout, a submission defeat to Dustin Poirier six months later. The duo coached a season of The Ultimate Fighter, and finally set a date to face off at UFC 303 earlier this year, but when McGregor was forced off of that card by an injury, they ultimately went in opposite directions.

It’s still unclear when McGregor returns, but Chandler re-enters the cage on Nov. 16 for a rematch with Charles Oliveira at UFC 307 in New York.

“I’m surprised [Chandler] didn’t continue waiting,” Moicano said in an interview with MMA Fighting. “This guy is too dumb, man. You’re raising a bet that has everything to go wrong. McGregor is MMA’s biggest troll right now. He has no incentive to fight. What’s the incentive for Conor McGregor to fight? He makes more money outside of fighting. His purse is nothing compared to what this guy makes with his business. Right now he’s using the UFC more like a marketing agency because everybody talks about him when he says he’s going to fight, and he’s done it again and again.

“I was surprised that Chandler gave up on waiting because he’s spent so much time — it’s like what you invest money on something and doesn’t know if it’s worth waiting or going all in. ‘Damn, should I keep trying? I’ve invested so much money and time that if I go out, I lose everything.’”

In the end, Moicano feels Chandler has “done the right thing” by moving on from a fight with McGregor—at least for the time being—and agreeing to face a popular name like Oliveira, who returns to action following a split decision defeat to Arman Tsarukyan.

“I think he was so invested on this fight that it was hard for him to pull out, but he saw it was for the best,” Moicano said. “And he’s also gotten a big fight, too. Oliveira is coming off a loss but he’s a former champion, a likable guy, very popular too. I think it could have gone worse for Chandler, fighting someone tougher and not that popular.”

Moicano is too invested on his upcoming bout—a UFC Paris main event clash with local lightweight Benoit Saint Denis this Saturday in France—to break down a rematch between “do Bronx” and Chandler. He wonders how the American will look two years removed from his latest fight.

“I hope Charles wins,” Moicano said. “I like to watch Charles fight, and I like his personality. Maybe Charles is the favorite, but I don’t know. It’s been so long we’ve seen Chandler fight. Chandler is dangerous early, and Charles gets hit a lot in the beginning. We’ve seen him get hit and continue going for it, but he can take it, too. If this fight goes to later rounds, I think Charles’ chances increase. I’m on the fence on this one, but I hope Charles wins.”