Conor McGregor finally returns to the UFC Octagon for the first time in three years on June 29th when he takes on Michael Chandler at UFC 303.
The fight was finally announced by Dana White earlier this month at UFC 300 when he announced the two would face off in a welterweight matchup.
Conor McGregor has only competed at 170lbs on two previous occasions, the first being his first fight against Nate Diaz, and the second time being his 2020 fight against Donald Cerrone.
Michael Chandler on the other hand began his MMA career at 170lbs, before quickly moving down to lightweight thereafter. It’s a fight that has been over a year in the making, as the two coached in The Ultimate Fighter season 31 last May.
The last time Conor McGregor competed was back in 2021 when he broke his ankle at the end of round one of his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier.
‘Iron Mike’ has been waiting around for the McGregor fight, and hasn’t fought himself since the end of 2022 when he lost to the aforementioned ‘Diamond’.
‘Five more nights on the delicious’ – Conor McGregor sets himself five-day countdown
Since having his fight confirmed and announced, ‘The Notorious’ has shared footage of his June 29th preparations.
This past weekend, though, he set himself a countdown of when he is going to put away the alcohol. In a post on Instagram, the former two-weight world champion stated, “Five more nights on the delicious and then that be that.”
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Since then, the 35-year-old has shared a video of him kicking the heavy bag with the same leg he broke during his UFC 264 main event. The Irishman has vowed to knock Chandler out with the repaired leg, comparing himself to the Terminator.
Conor McGregor’s head coach makes early prediction and compares it to 2015 fight
Talking publically for the first time since the fight announcement, John Kavanagh – Conor McGregor’s head coach – has given his early prediction for the welterweight fight and has given the fans an update on how McGregor has been looking back in camp for the first time in three years.
“He’s looking super slick. He’s come back on the mats as sharp as ever of course we’ve got to get the rounds in and the conditioning up as to be ready for competition but his technique is as sharp as ever.” Kavanagh told Andy Stevenson of Severe MMA.
The head coach of SBG in Ireland went on to give his early prediction for the fight and even went as far as comparing the matchup to McGregor’s 2015 matchup with Chad Mendes.
In that fight – which was now nine years ago – ‘The Notorious’ scored a second-round TKO over Mendes, winning the interim featherweight title.
“I’ve said this from the start, I see similarities to the (Chad) Mendes fight, I’d be surprised if it goes two rounds, I’d be surprised. He just hits too hard, he’s too sharp.
“Is there going to be scrappiness and a few takedowns and stuff, maybe, but every round starts on the feet and his ability to get back there is underestimated, so I’d be surprised if we see two rounds.” Kavanagh added.
Early in his career and throughout his tenure with Bellator, Chandler became known for his ferocious wrestling and ability to control a fight. Since signing with the UFC, he has adopted more of a brawler style, with only one of his last five fights going past round three.
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