“Hopefully this year. There is no date. I’m hoping for the fall. [Hopefully] we get it done in the fall.” – Dana White
Conor McGregor‘s highly anticipated return to the UFC faces yet another delay, as UFC CEO Dana White tantalizingly hints at a potential showdown with Michael Chandler slated for the fall of 2024. Despite McGregor’s fervent announcement of a face-off with Chandler on June 29 at the prestigious International Fight Week card in Las Vegas, White reveals a crucial detail: no concrete date has been set for this eagerly awaited bout. Instead, he sets his sights on the latter part of 2024, marking the continuation of a saga that began when McGregor and Chandler first squared off as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter in early 2023.
This latest postponement adds another layer to the ongoing drama surrounding this anticipated matchup, initially expected to materialize last year after McGregor’s involvement as a coach on the reality show. However, complications arose as McGregor re-entered the UFC’s anti-doping program following a significant leg injury sustained in his previous bout against Dustin Poirier in 2021. Although McGregor resumed testing last October, a mandatory six-month period looms before his return to the octagon.
Initially speculated for UFC 300 in April, McGregor’s revelation of a June 29 clash with Chandler quashed those hopes. Now, even that proposed date hangs in uncertainty.
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Despite the setbacks, Chandler remains resolute in his commitment to await McGregor, as pledged since their coaching roles on The Ultimate Fighter. Despite encountering moments of frustration and external pressures to pursue alternative opponents, Chandler underscores his unwavering dedication to the signed contract and the impending showdown.
Chandler’s last octagon appearance dates back to UFC 281 in November 2022, suggesting a potential hiatus of nearly two years before facing McGregor, provided a fall date comes to fruition.
As fans eagerly await further developments in the McGregor vs. Chandler narrative, the anticipation continues to intensify, with the conclusion of this captivating booking saga remaining elusive.
KAIRA’S VIEW
The anticipation surrounding Conor McGregor’s return to the UFC is met with another twist as UFC CEO Dana White hints at a potential showdown with Michael Chandler in the fall of 2024. McGregor’s journey back to the octagon has been fraught with delays and uncertainties, with the latest setback being the indefinite postponement of his proposed matchup with Chandler. Despite McGregor’s eagerness to step into the ring on June 29, White’s revelation sheds light on the reality of the situation: there’s still no set date for the highly anticipated bout. As McGregor navigates the rigorous anti-doping program following a career-threatening injury, Chandler patiently awaits his promised shot at the former two-division UFC champion. For Chandler, the road to facing McGregor has been filled with moments of frustration, but his unwavering commitment to the signed contract underscores his determination to make the fight happen. As the saga continues to unfold, fans are left eagerly awaiting further developments in the McGregor vs. Chandler narrative.
