It has been an extended period of time since we last saw Conor McGregor in action inside the octagon, but the Irish superstar has vowed that he will be back in action relatively soon.
McGregor has spoken at length about a potential showdown with former Bellator star Michael Chandler, with a potential fight between the stars rumoured to be taking place in the summer this year.
McGregor couldn’t announce a date or venue for the potential bout, but he revealed that the fight has never been closer to happening after exchanging insults for much of the last 12 months.
Fight Been In The Works For A While
While the bout between McGregor and Chandler hasn’t been formally announced at this stage, the potential of it happening isn’t lost on MMA fans, as it has been teased throughout the last year. There were long standing plans to make the fight happen after it was revealed that the two fights would be leading opposing teams in The Ultimate Fighter reality show.
One of the biggest reasons for the show’s success was down to the involvement of McGregor and Chandler, with both typically firing off shots at each other. It was previously teased that the bout may happen on June 29, but as that hasn’t been announced at this stage, it will likely take place at a later date.
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Chandler Calls Out McGregor
Chandler hasn’t been putting the breaks on the potential fight, and has even put more fire toward their potential bout in recent weeks after appearing on WWE’s Monday Night Raw. The crossover between the two companies has been more evident throughout this year due to the fact that the WWE and UFC are now sister-companies under the TKO Group.
While on live television, Chandler called out McGregor, and revealed that the fight can happen at any point and anywhere. The Irishman didn’t take the threat lying down, as he replied on social media quickly after the promo was aired on U.S. television.
McGregor Keen To Get Back Into Competition
The Irishman revealed in a recent interview that he is happy to prepare for any fight in the near future, as he has missed being in regular competition. He also admitted that he has already finished two training camps in the hope that something would have been made official in the meantime.
McGregor revealed that the UFC’s decision not to announce a fight meant that he stopped training, but he is keen to get back into the gym as soon as possible after promoting his new film.
The Irishman hasn’t been involved in a UFC fight since breaking his leg at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. That was a second straight defeat for McGregor against the same rival, with both losses having been inflicted inside the opening two rounds. In fact, McGregor has won just one fight since the start of 2018, with that victory being scored on his welterweight debut via first round TKO against Donald Cerrone.
Former Champion Eying Return
McGregor has been one of the biggest stars in the UFC throughout his career, making history in 2016 by becoming the first double champion after holding both the lightweight and featherweight titles simultaneously. He has also headlined some of the biggest MMA events in the history of the UFC, as well as making an eye-watering amount of money when taking on Floyd Mayweather in the boxing ring.
The Irishman wishes to fight Chandler on his return to the sport this year, but refused to rule out a bout with his old rival Nate Diaz later in the year. Diaz is open to fighting on the card in September, which is slated to be the first MMA event to be staged inside the famous Sphere in Las Vegas.
Future Remains Uncertain
However, McGregor himself questioned whether he would be fighting in the UFC again, as he is yet to sign a new deal with the massive company. He also teased that he could become a free agent and opt to fight outside of the company. There have also been multiple teases throughout recent history that the Irishman could appear on WWE television, with McGregor himself teasing that he could turn up at the upcoming WrestleMania in Philadelphia.
However, for the meantime, the Irishman will be promoting his new film release, as the UFC star plays the villain opposite Jake Gyllenhaal in ‘Road House’. Acting is something that McGregor could also opt to pursue, as he revealed that he could take inspiration from actors such as Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger when it comes to his future plans.
Regardless, the former UFC world champion remains keen on getting back into the fight scene, and it could only be a matter of time before a massive UFC event is schedule involving the world-famous Irishman.