Uncertainty Shrouds McGregor’s Anticipated UFC Comeback: A Duel with Chandler on the Horizon?

Dana White, the charismatic UFC President, has confirmed the much-anticipated return of Conor McGregor to the Octagon this year. However, the specifics of when and against whom he will fight remain shrouded in uncertainty. McGregor has been vocal about facing Michael Chandler in a middleweight bout on June 29th, but nothing is official yet, and White seemed skeptical in a recent interview with Sportsnet.

“McGregor will return this year,” White stated, hinting at a possible matchup with Chandler. “We’ll see how it unfolds.”

The potential face-off between McGregor and Chandler has been brewing for over a year. McGregor’s extended recovery period and complications with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) have delayed the fight. Last year, both McGregor and Chandler appeared as coaches on the reality series ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ with plans to clash in the Octagon at the season’s conclusion.

However, the match never materialized. Chandler has been inactive since November 2022, and McGregor last competed at UFC 264 in July 2021. Both fighters faced losses against Dustin Poirier in their most recent matches. “The Notorious” broke his leg during his defeat and has been recuperating away from the spotlight.

The reasons behind McGregor’s return to the cage not being officially booked, despite mutual agreement from him and UFC executives, remain unclear. Should he not face Chandler, McGregor has several exciting potential opponents, including his former rival Nate Diaz, who has expressed interest in competing at UFC 300.