Chandler 'can almost guarantee' McGregor fight by end of 2023

Michael Chandler has faith his bout with Conor McGregor will come to fruition.

It's been more than four months since the UFC announced that McGregor and Chandler would coach "The Ultimate Fighter 31" and then square off in the Octagon later this year. But it's taken a while to finalize the matchup, as McGregor hasn't officially re-entered the United States Anti-Doping Agency's mandatory drug-testing pool.

Chandler said Wednesday he's heard "things are getting close" and that he believes he'll face McGregor before the end of 2023.

"I can almost guarantee we fight by the end of the year - November, December of this year - and we put on one of the greatest shows that the UFC has had in a very long time," the lightweight contender told TSN's Aaron Bronsteter.

Under the UFC's anti-doping policy, fighters who return to the USADA pool after a self-imposed absence - like McGregor - are subject to drug testing for six months and must submit two negative tests before they're allowed to compete.

However, the UFC may exempt fighters from the six-month rule under "exceptional circumstances" or when the rule "would be manifestly unfair to an athlete."

Barring an exemption, McGregor needs to re-enter the pool by Friday to be eligible for the final UFC pay-per-view event of 2023 - which is scheduled for Dec. 16 in Las Vegas.

Chandler said he is "cautiously optimistic."

"I think once this ('TUF 31') show starts to come closer to the middle, to the end, we're going to find more of a solidified game plan and path moving forward," Chandler said. "I think Conor will be in the USADA testing pool very soon."

"The fight is going to happen," he added. "And I'm just being patient."