McGregor returns after 2 years

Irish boxer Conor McGregor announced he will fight Michael Chandler in Las Vegas on June 29, but the UFC has not confirmed this information.

On December 31, McGregor announced on social media X that the "greatest comeback of all time" will take place during UFC's International Fight Week in Las Vegas in the summer of 2024. The Irishman said he would fight Chandler at 185 pounds - a weight class he has never competed in.

The UFC has not confirmed the news, and Chandler has not been notified of an official date yet, but is still ready. The 37-year-old fighter insists he has always trained for such a big fight and would accept any weight class, from 155 to 185 pounds.

McGregor appears at the O2 Arena ahead of the heavyweight boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius in London, England on August 12, 2023. Photo: Reuters — McGregor appears at the O2 Arena ahead of the heavyweight boxing match between Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius in London, England on August 12, 2023. Photo: *Reuters*

ESPN commented that McGregor's desire to fight at 185 pounds is interesting, since both McGregor and Chandler's "natural" fighting weight is 155 pounds. McGregor has won titles at 145 and 155 pounds, and has fought at a maximum of 170 pounds. Chandler also holds a 155-pound title in another promotion, and all five of his UFC fights have been at 155 pounds.

Last year, McGregor and Chandler appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 31 as coaches for fighters hoping to return to the UFC. On the show, McGregor left open the possibility of bare-knuckle boxing, and even fighting Manny Pacquiao - the legendary boxer who retired in 2021.

McGregor has also been embroiled in a dispute with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which was the UFC's anti-doping partner until the end of 2023. USADA said its partnership with the UFC deteriorated because the UFC wanted to allow McGregor to compete without having to undergo six months of anti-doping testing and produce at least two negative results. UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell denied the allegations and demanded a public apology. The UFC later announced a new partnership with the toll agency Drug Free Sport International.

McGregor has not fought since rolling his ankle and losing to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. The Irishman has a 22-6 record, has won the UFC featherweight and lightweight titles, and is the first UFC fighter to hold championships in two weight classes at the same time.

McGregor is the UFC’s pay-per-view king, appearing in five of its highest-grossing events. The 35-year-old was ranked by Forbes as the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2021, with $180 million in earnings. He also made the list in 2018, when he earned $99 million and came in fourth.

McGregor's career has been closely linked to MMA, but the match that elevated him to superstar status in the sports industry was his fight with "The Undefeated" Floyd Mayweather at the boxing ring in August 2017. McGregor lost to the American boxer but still earned $100 million in the exhibition match.

Hong Duy

Source link