UFC President Dana White has officially announced Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon in 2024 but has not disclosed the opponent or the specific date. In December, McGregor stated on social media that he intended to face Michael Chandler at 185 pounds during International Fight Week on June 29 in Las Vegas. White, however, only confirmed that McGregor would be participating in a fight “this year,” as reported by Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter. McGregor’s last bout was at UFC 264 in July 2021, resulting in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier, with his last victory dating back to January 2020 against Donald Cerrone.
In McGregor’s comeback announcement, he dubbed the upcoming bout with Chandler as the “greatest comeback of all time.” Chandler, responding positively to McGregor’s challenge, acknowledged his readiness to fight at any weight. Despite both fighters typically competing below 185 pounds, with McGregor’s titles at 145 and 155 pounds and Chandler consistently at 155 in his UFC career, the weight class did not pose an issue for Chandler.
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While there is no official date for the McGregor-Chandler fight, Nate Diaz, who has previously faced McGregor twice, hinted on social media about his interest in a potential showdown at UFC 300 in April. Diaz’s last Octagon appearance was a submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022, a fight believed to possibly mark the end of his UFC career. With the uncertainty surrounding the Chandler fight, there remains a possibility of McGregor facing Diaz for the third time if both fighters make their comebacks this year.
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