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Conor McGregor is back in the headlines, hinting at a new date for his highly anticipated bout against Michael Chandler. The fight, initially scheduled for UFC 303 in Las Vegas last month, was postponed after McGregor pulled out due to injury.
After weeks of uncertainty, fans can now breathe a sigh of relief as the 'Notorious' has confirmed that he and UFC President Dana White have discussed a new date for the showdown in 2024.
McGregor took to social media to share the promidate, responding to Chandler's comment about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump with, "I talked to Dana today about our new date, all looking good! 24' for sure." This statement has sparked excitement among fans eagerly awaiting McGregor's return to the Octagon.
December is the most likely date
While the exact date remains uncertain, combat sports reporter Ariel Helwani suggests that December is a likely timeframe for the clash. "At this point, if I had to put money on Conor vs. Chandler, it seems to be December," Helwani revealed.
The MMA Fighting reporter also noted that the much-talked-about Sphere event scheduled for September 14 is unlikely to host the fight due to its high costs and McGregor's substantial payday demands.
McGregor, who hasn't fought since his devastating loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, is looking to bounce back from a two-fight losing streak. His back-to-back defeats to Poirier have left fans wondering if the Irish superstar can reclaim his former glory.
A little toe injury postponed the fight
The reason behind McGregor's withdrawal from UFC 303 was initially shrouded in mystery, but the fighter later confirmed that a broken pinky toe was to blame. Sports medicine expert Brian Sutterer weighed in on the injury, stating, "Was this an injury warranted of McGregor withdrawing? Yeah, I think so, absolutely
It's not a fracture that's going to have that drastic of an effect on your mobility. But it's enough of a thing that it's going to affect and throw off your ability to continue your training, keep up your cardio and feel confident with your footwork," Sutterer assesed.
As fans await the official announcement, speculation continues to swirl about where and when McGregor vs. Chandler will take place. With Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic rumored for the UFC's New York card in November, December seems the most likely option for this blockbuster event.