Conor McGregor says he will fight Michael Chandler and wants UFC involvement for his return
‘The Notorious’ believes he will be fighting Michael Chandler in his UFC return, although there isn’t a specific date yet.
MMA fans are willing to know if Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will finally meet inside the octagon at UFC 300, which is expected to be one of the biggest cards in 2024.
While the UFC boss Dana White poured cold water when asked about a return of The Notorious, the former double category champion has stated that he will be present on that card and will face the American.
The Irishman broke the silence and talked about his potential fight with Chandler. Both men were the main stars of The Ultimate Fighter 31 show, where they coached two teams of mixed martial artists who fought for a contract in the UFC.
McGregor responded to a fan on X about why the fight hasn’t been made official yet, with Conor saying: “I am confident we get the set date”.
“There is no one holding no one back. A lot goes on behind the scenes but all involved are working hard to make it happen”, he added.
McGregor trying to beat frustration
Despite his optimism, McGregor seems to be struggling to accept the situation. Before being eligible to fight again, McGregor had to complete six months of clean testing, so he reentered the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) testing pool.
However, shortly after, the USADA announced that it would be ending its partnership with the UFC, which didn’t help to clarify when Conor would make his return to the octagon.
McGregor’s coach John Kavanagh admitted he’s worried about his fighter’s mental health amid the uncertainty surrounding his return.
“He’s very frustrated. I was [worried about his mental health] too”, he said on The MMA Hour show.
“But he’s found this great group of training partners. At least he’s doing that. Okay, it’s not the same as getting to compete in front of a large crowd. But at least he’s getting training in. And that’s so important”, Kavanagh explained.
McGregor has been inactive since July 2021, when he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.