While dealing with the fallout of a civil sexual assault trial that has left him on the hook for over a million dollars in legal fees, UFC star Conor McGregor appears ready to turn his attention back to fighting.
McGregor’s 2024 has not been a good one: his highly anticipated return, against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, was cancelled due to a broken toe. Then there was the civil trial, in which he was found liable, with the plaintiff’s lawyer’s fees handed to him along with a substantial civil penalty.
However, McGregor has been talking fighting this week. In a pair of since deleted Tweets, McGregor wrote “19 KO’s in Pro MMA, that not my business though. Great chat, [Dana White], love your thinking!”
While he tagged UFC President and CEO White, it was would-be opponent “Iron” Michael Chandler who replied. “Remember in the cold tub doing the TUF coaches’ challenge you said I’d be your 20th? Show up and try me.”
That, it seems, is just fine with McGregor, who responded saying “It’s you! Rest up and I’ll see you at the top.”
McGregor has not fought since his 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, that saw him go down with a broken leg. His return has been a hot topic for fight fans ever since. As for Chandler, he waited over a year for the McGregor fight, with the pair serving as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31. With UFC 303 falling through for McGregor-Chandler, the latter took a detour, fighting Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 last night. The fight did not go his way; former lightweight champ defeated Chandler for a second time, this time on the scorecards.
