Finally, Conor McGregor has a scheduled date for his UFC comeback.
In an interview on The MMA Hour this Wednesday, McGregor confirmed reaching an agreement with the UFC for his much-discussed return fight.
“The call has been made and we’re a go,” McGregor stated.
“This means this summer, the Mac is back. So with I’m happy with my time I’ve got in the lead-up to it, I’m happy with where I’m at, and everything just works out in God’s name. And I’m ecstatic where I’m at. I’ve got great news the other day.”
At 35, McGregor has been linked to a potential bout against Michael Chandler since his involvement in The Ultimate Fighter 31 in early 2023. Despite announcing the matchup for June 29 at the UFC’s annual International Fight Week pay-per-view, UFC CEO Dana White denied its confirmation, citing uncertainties surrounding McGregor’s return due to his wealth.
Since his last fight in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier, where he suffered a broken leg, McGregor has expressed frustration over not being booked by the UFC.
While McGregor didn’t confirm if June 29 remains the date, he indicated leaving the announcement details to the UFC. Details such as rounds and weight class remain undecided, but McGregor hopes for a two-fight year in 2024.
“Look at Anthony Joshua right now, with consistency. I was watching ringside, I watched — boom, boom, boom, sharper each time. “Look at [Joseph] Parker … amazing warrior of a man, amazing boxer, look at him — boom, boom, boom. Consistency breeds quality. So I’m coming in here, years out of the game.
“Now I’m sparring and fighting and I feel good and sharp, but I’m going to have to get my in-league sharpness, and that’s going to have to come through the things. So the weight has no been discussed. I know I had that little buzz — I haven’t discussed the weight. To be honest, I haven’t jumped on weigh-in scales since the [Dustin Poirier] fight, the last fight. Since I weighed in on the last one, I have not touched the scales, not once. So I don’t even [know], I’ll have to go through all that. And then rounds, maybe I might say them, ‘Look, I’m just going three rounds, lads, for this one, and I want to just wet my beak.’
“Because I’ll do three three rounds really nicely now. And rather than pushing through to get to five — it’s just, I feel if I push right now to walk toward five full fitness rounds, I feel like the first three rounds wouldn’t be as sharp as I could get them. So I’d rather sharpen the blade of three, and go in nice and sharp and fresh, get the feel, get the fight. Chandler is going to come for it, Chandler is going to come at me, he’s going to want to try and engage and come at me. He’s going to have to, and that’s his style. So I think three is a lovely one.”
While promoting his role in the upcoming Road House remake with Jake Gyllenhaal, premiering exclusively on Amazon Prime on March 21, McGregor pledged to shift his focus entirely to preparing for his UFC return once the press tour concludes.
“I can’t act the bollocks now. That’s the thing. [Before this] you’re f****** flat out and I’m doing these camps, but nothing’s really there, so it’s kind of like the old temptation — my lovely Proper 12 Irish whiskey, my lovely port stout, my lovely penchant for a bit of madness and a bit of nice music in my ears and dancing and all the rest of it. And now I have to tighten up. I’m going in there, the man’s going to trying to be swinging bombs at me, so it’s great for me. It’s great for me and I’m excited and I can’t wait. Like I said, I got the sparring going straightaway, felt nice, trained today, and onwards we go.”
