Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will Square Off in the Octagon in a Highly-Anticipated Bout later this year. 

After a long hiatus from the UFC, Conor McGregor is set to make his return to the Octagon against Michael Chandler, as confirmed by Dana White. The two fighters will first face off as coaches in the upcoming season 32 of The Ultimate Fighter, a knockout team tournament for young fighters that will air from May 30th to August 15th on ESPN and ESPN+.

The exciting announcement was made on Saturday, with White saying, “Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler will go head-to-head as coaches of The Ultimate Fighter. Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler. This season premieres on May 30th and will run through August 15th on ESPN and ESPN+. The end of the season will culminate in a live, PPV fight between McGregor and Chandler, although the date and location have yet to be announced.”

Chandler has been actively calling for a fight with McGregor for over a year, and now he will finally get his wish. Both fighters are coming off a loss, with Chandler defeated by Poirier in UFC 281 last November and McGregor breaking his leg in his last outing against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Despite their recent setbacks, Chandler’s record in UFC stands at 2-3, having faced top opponents such as Poirier, Charles Oliveira, and Justin Gaethje.

McGregor’s appearance in The Ultimate Fighter series will be his second, after coaching in the 2015 series shortly after winning his first UFC title. On Instagram, Chandler expressed his excitement, writing, “Pumped is an understatement…See you at the top!”

The return of Conor McGregor and the addition of Michael Chandler to the Octagon are sure to bring excitement and drama to the sport. Fans are eagerly awaiting the end of the season to see the two fighters square off in what promises to be a highly-anticipated bout.

Leon Osamor