Conor McGregor has officially announced his return to the octagon after a prolonged absence marked by negotiations and recovery from a leg injury suffered in a bout against Dustin Poirier last July.
McGregor's comeback fight is set for the summer against Michael Chandler, following their coaching roles on The Ultimate Fighter.
Despite initial doubts surrounding their matchup, McGregor confirmed Chandler as his next opponent with his trademark flair, delivering a cheeky dig in the process.
Return of The Mac... this summer? 🤔
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 19, 2024
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"We got confirmation a few days ago that it's all systems go at the Mac, The Notorious will be returning in the UFC octagon this summer," McGregor revealed to ESPN.
"Shut up, Michael, you f***ing imbecile. The man doesn't shut up. I seen him on Raw. I like Mike - I'm going to bust him up. I'm going to bust Mike up."
While McGregor's return to the octagon has been eagerly anticipated, questions linger regarding the weight division for his comeback fight. McGregor had previously hinted at a potential bout at middleweight for June 29, though UFC president Dana White dismissed these claims. The uncertainty persists, despite McGregor's earlier declaration.
"I was having a bit of a laugh with the 185," McGregor admitted. "I don't know, I haven't checked the scales since the last time I weighed in at a UFC event which was a fair bit of time ago. But I'll have a chat and see where I'm at. But I got great news, it's all systems go, thumbs up, thumbs up, got the call everything's sweet."
With McGregor's return now confirmed, fans eagerly await further details regarding the specifics of the matchup and the weight division in which McGregor will compete. As always, the charismatic Irishman promises fireworks inside the octagon, ensuring an electrifying return to the sport.