After a hiatus of nearly three years, Ireland’s Conor McGregor is set to make his comeback against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in Las Vegas on 29 June.
McGregor, a 35-year-old former champion in two weight classes, hasn’t stepped into the ring since July 2021 and has been on a losing streak in his last two matches.
The UFC announced the welterweight match with the American fighter Chandler after UFC 300 in Las Vegas on Saturday.
In his MMA career, McGregor boasts 22 victories and six losses, while Chandler, aged 37, holds a record of 23-8. McGregor suffered a leg injury in his latest fight against Poirier in July 2021, which he lost. He had also previously lost to Poirier by a second-round stoppage six months prior.
Since earning the title of UFC’s first concurrent two-weight champion – in the lightweight and featherweight divisions – in 2016, McGregor has only claimed one victory.
Chandler, who transitioned from Bellator to the UFC in 2021, has participated in several exciting matches, despite losing three out of his five fights. He was defeated by then-champion Charles Oliveira in his second UFC fight, followed by losses to Justin Gaethje and Poirier.
The McGregor-Chandler face-off was confirmed without a specific date early last year when they served as rival coaches on the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter reality TV series.