​Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Michael Chandler has shut down claims that Conor McGregor went into UFC 329 knowing that he was injured, insisting that the Irishman still wants to fight him.McGregor’s return following a five-year hiatus ended in disappointment as he suffered a knee injury seconds into his rematch with Max Holloway at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. While the former two-division champion is set for another stint on the sidelines as he recovers from the injury, Chandler sees McGregor eventually returning to the Octagon, potentially against him.After McGregor’s return to the UFC ended in anticlimactic fashion, Chandler came to his defense. The former Bellator MMA champion dismissed the claim that McGregor had an injury going into UFC 329.“I would be absolutely surprised, like the most surprised on the planet, if Conor just showed up for a paycheck, limped in there and said, ‘I don’t care, I’ll give you guys one minute, shave my head into a mohawk, show up, do the intros and then just bow out a minute later,’” Chandler said in an Instagram post. “You can say what you want about Conor, but one thing he is not, is a quitter, one thing he is not, is a bamboozler. The body is unpredictable and every fight is unpredictable and if you look at Conor, (he always comes out with a kick),” he added.Chandler, who is yet to face McGregor despite starring opposite the Irishman on “The Ultimate Fighter” and being booked against him previously, still believes that “Notorious” wants to fight him after their 2024 bout was canceled.“I believe he wants to fight me; I believe he tried to fight me; I believe that’s how the negotiations went, other plans were made, but the honor and the integrity of wanting to stick to and be a man of his word since he pulled out of that fight back in 2024,” he explained. “I know everyone is disappointed, but keep on watching; this ain’t the last you’re gonna see of Conor McGregor and I’m excited to see how it plays out.”McGregor has one fight left in his UFC contract. He has confirmed that he will undergo surgery for his knee injury, insisting that he will return to fight out his contract.