UFC president Dana White confirmed that Conor McGregor will return to the Octagon in 2024 but declined to reveal an opponent or date.
McGregor said on social media in December that he would fight Michael Chandler at 185 pounds at International Fight Week on June 29 in Las Vegas.
White only confirmed McGregor would be fighting "this year," according to Sportsnet's Aaron Bronsteter.
McGregor last fought at UFC 264 in July 2021, when he lost to Dustin Poirier by TKO. He last won in January 2020 over Donald Cerrone.
In the December post announcing his comeback, McGregor called his upcoming fight with Chandler the "greatest comeback of all time."
Chandler, whose last UFC bout was a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022, responded affirmatively to McGregor's challenge on social media.
Both fighters have traditionally fought below 185 pounds, with McGregor's titles coming at 145 and 155 pounds and Chandler fighting at 155 in each of his five career UFC bouts, according to ESPN's Brett Okamoto.
But Chandler told Okamoto he would fight McGregor "at any weight."
"Here we go, this is the fight I've been training for," Chandler said in December. "Any weight— 155, 170, 185 pounds—is good with me."
At the time, Chandler said he did not know of any official date for the fight.
Chandler isn't the only one expressing interest in being McGregor's opponent for his highly anticipated return to the UFC, however.
Nate Diaz, who has faced McGregor twice, hinted on social media that he would be interested in facing the former featherweight and lightweight champion at UFC 300 in April.
Diaz last made an Octagon appearance in a submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022 in what was believed to potentially be the final fight of his UFC career.
Given the lack of confirmation surrounding the Chandler fight, there remains a chance fans will get to see Part 3 of McGregor v. Diaz if both fighters make their returns this year.
(Bleacher Report)
