Update on Conor McGregor’s UFC return, how it ties into new MSG co-main event
While there is still no definitive date for when Conor McGregor will return to the UFC, his scheduled opponent is moving on for the time being.
News originally broke in a clip from an upcoming Barstool Sports interview with UFC president Dana White where he revealed to Robbie Fox that Michael Chandler was done waiting and had moved on. Thus, Chandler would not be fighting McGregor in his return.
However, that has already changed.
Fox released another clip where he said White called him and said there was a misunderstanding. Chandler may still fight McGregor in his return, but Chandler wanted to take a fight in the meantime and will be taking on former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of November’s UFC 309 from Madison Square Garden.
This week, White said that McGregor was not going to fight the rest of 2024 and would fight “early” in 2025.
The McGregor vs. Chandler fight was originally slated for this past June’s International Fight Week at UFC 303, but a McGregor broken toe derailed that effort.
McGregor’s hasn’t fought since he lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021 while Chandler (the former Bellator lightweight champion) has been on the shelf since November 2022’s UFC 281 when he also lost to Poirier.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.