Conor McGregor has announced that he and the UFC have agreed on plans for his return to the sport, although details such as the date, rounds, and weight class are yet to be determined.
Finally, it seems Conor McGregor is making his UFC comeback. It’s been a long time coming, hasn’t it?
On Wednesday, during The MMA Hour, McGregor spilled the beans. He and the UFC have finally agreed on his much-anticipated, often-delayed return fight. “The call has been made and we’re a go,” he declared on the show.
And what does this mean? Well, the Mac is back this summer. McGregor seems pretty chuffed about the whole thing. He’s happy with his prep time, where he’s at, and everything else. “I’m ecstatic where I’m at. I’ve got great news the other day,” he said.
Now, McGregor, 35, has been linked to a return fight against Michael Chandler. This was after coaching on The Ultimate Fighter 31 in early 2023. The former two-division champ announced the matchup on New Year’s Eve for June 29 at the UFC’s annual International Fight Week pay-per-view. But UFC CEO Dana White denied those claims.
White maintained that there was nothing on the books. He’s been repeating this sentiment for months, stating that he didn’t know when — or if — McGregor would return. Apparently, McGregor’s wealth is a complicating factor in the situation.
McGregor hasn’t competed since he broke his leg in his July 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier. But he’s been vocal about his displeasure about not being booked by the UFC.
On Wednesday, McGregor didn’t reveal whether June 29 remains the date. He said he’d allow UFC to announce the details. Other specifics like rounds and weight class are still up in the air. But “The Notorious” still hopes that his comeback is just the first step of a two-fight year for him in 2024.
McGregor also mentioned Anthony Joshua’s consistency. “I was watching ringside, I watched — boom, boom, boom, sharper each time,” he said. He also praised Joseph Parker, calling him an “amazing warrior of a man, amazing boxer.”
He’s been out of the game for years. But now he’s sparring and fighting, and he feels good and sharp. But he knows he needs to get his in-league sharpness back. And that’s going to take some time.
He hasn’t discussed the weight. In fact, he hasn’t jumped on weigh-in scales since his last fight. He doesn’t even know what his current weight is. And then there’s the matter of rounds. He might just go for three rounds for this one.
“I’ll do three three rounds really nicely now,” he said. He feels if he pushes for five full fitness rounds, the first three rounds wouldn’t be as sharp. So he’d rather focus on three rounds and go in nice and sharp and fresh. He knows Chandler is going to come at him, and he’s ready for it.
McGregor is currently promoting his role in the upcoming Road House remake with Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie premieres exclusively on Amazon Prime on March 21. But he’s vowed to focus on preparing for his UFC return as soon as the press tour ends.
“I can’t act the bollocks now,” he said. He knows he has to tighten up. He’s excited and can’t wait. He’s already started sparring, and he’s feeling good. And so, onwards he goes.