International Fight Week’s UFC 303 has its main event, and Conor McGregor has his return date set.
Following the historic UFC 300 card on Saturday, UFC President and CEO Dana White announced that the long-awaited McGregor vs. Michael Chandler bout will headline UFC 303. That card arrives on June 29, 2024 and as noted will top this year’s International Fight Week.
Despite the long wait to get the bout announced, White, who alluded to the Irish star’s commitments outside the cage as being part of the hold-up, suggested there were no issues on McGregor’s end in making the bout.
“Conor’s always been easy to deal with. He’s a smart dude,” White told media outlets including Cageside Press backstage at the T-Mobile Arena. “Conor is a diehard UFC guy and will be til he retires and beyond.”
Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler coached opposite one another on The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year, and were widely expected to face off in the usual coaches’ fight. But the months dragged on, and “The Notorious” was vocal while on the sidelines about wanting to return, despite having commitments regarding his role in the recently released Road House remake.
McGregor hasn’t competed since July of 2021, when he snapped his leg in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier. Chandler has been sitting a while himself, and is also coming off a loss to Poirier, at UFC 281 in November 2022.
