Conor McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in the rubber match of his trilogy with Dustin Poirier in 2021, and appears no closer to having a fight booked.
That, despite the UFC pairing him up with Michael Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year. Yet in spite of the massive opportunity to cash in on the traditional coaches fight, the promotion has been unable to get the fight booked.
That has McGregor getting antsy, and he’s now suggested that he wants to fight both Chandler and longtime rival Nate Diaz (who isn’t technically with the company at the moment) just months apart.
“I wish for this [the Nate Diaz fight] on Mexican Independence Day in the Sphere,” McGregor wrote on social media on Tuesday, referring to the newly launched venue in Las Vegas. “Chandler, June. Diaz, September. I have let this be known.”
In a longer text post, McGregor stated that he was “Still holding hope for June 29th. Lack of action on it however is now causing lack of enthusiasm. I need a decision soon. I am the most tested athlete under this new regime. Yet no date to fight. The game is a bit lackluster also at present, which isn’t helping. I hope these next few cards pop and I get a date. Eliminate distractions and begin real work towards it.”
Who he has let it be known to remains a question; UFC President Dana White recently hinted that the earliest return date for McGregor would be the fall. That has left many observers baffled, given both UFC 300 in April, and UFC 302 in Las Vegas (part of International Fight Week) would have been opportune moments for the biggest star in MMA history to return.
The UFC, however, continued to set records in terms of revenue even without Conor McGregor in action. That may have them ready to spread things out a little, in the hopes that their larger events can carry themselves.
