Joe Rogan says UFC should keep Conor McGregor away from Michael Chandler as rising star is ‘dangerous’ for their money

THE UFC should avoid matching up Conor McGregor against Michael Chandler if they want to continue making money from the Notorious.

McGregor’s next octagon outing is a must-win affair after his second-round TKO defeat to Dustin Poirier last month at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi.

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Joe Rogan interviews Conor McGregor after the UFC 246 ceremonial weigh-insCredit: Getty

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Joe Rogan reckons Michael Chandler is a dangerous fight for Conor McGregorCredit: Getty

Following his third setback in the promotion, some fight fans are eager for the former two-division champion’s next bout to be against UFC new-boy Chandler – who made a stunning debut in UFC 257’s co-main event.

But UFC commentator Joe Rogan reckons the promotion should avoid putting The Notorious in the cage with the three-time Bellator lightweight champion at all costs.

When asked who he thinks Poirier should fight next, Rogan said: “The purist’s option is Charles Oliveira.

“If you’re a purist, you want that fight. And I think I want that fight.

“If you want to make a s**t load of money before Conor fight’s someone else, you have the rematch.

“Here’s thing: If Conor fights Michael Chandler next, which is a possibility, if Dustin fights Oliveira and then Conor fights Michael Chandler, what are the odds that Conor beats Michael Chandler?

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“I think Michael Chandler is the favourite in that fight, which is very dangerous for your money.”

Should the UFC opt to book Poirier vs McGregor III, Rogan believes they’ll be hard-pressed to sell the rubber match.

He said: “If you want to make a lot of money, what you do is you allow Conor to have some time off and you figure out a way to market this in a way that you explain a way that Conor can figure out a way to beat Dustin. Good luck.

“He did beat him in the first fight, he did rock him in the second fight, actually, Dustin actually admitted there was one point in the first round he was hurt.

“And he was like, ‘If Conor had followed up, I might’ve been in trouble.’

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A dejected Conor McGregor looks on following his UFC 257 defeat to Dustin PoirierCredit: Getty

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“But that might be Dustin also saying I would like that rematch. I want that rematch.”

McGregor, 32, is champing at the bit to exact revenge on his former featherweight rival, saying: “One apiece now with a trilogy bout for all the marbles! Wow! Exciting!

“Not a trilogy I was expecting, nor the tactical affair I was anticipating, but I’d be lying if I said this wasn’t meant to be.

“This is exactly how this was always meant to be! Buzzing!!”

UFC commentator Joe Rogan says Dustin Poirier admitted to him that Conor McGregor caught him early on and caused him trouble