Conor McGregor might’ve have put any speculation that the Michael Chandler fight isn’t happening to rest.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) is expected to return from injury against Chandler this year, but with “The Notorious” yet to re-enter the the U.S. Anti-Doping Agent drug testing pool, many have wondered if the fight will happen. McGregor is required to be in the USADA testing pool for six months before he’s eligible to compete unless the UFC issues an exemption.
McGregor and Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) are coaches on Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which debuts May 30 on ESPN and ESPN+. Episodes will air Tuesdays with a season finale set for Aug. 15. Chandler chooses to believe that McGregor will fight him, claiming that a no-show would be a huge stain on the Irish superstar’s legacy.
In a recent interview with TMZ, McGregor appears to have silenced any skeptics by teasing that a fight announcement is coming soon.
“Soon, very soon,” McGregor said of his fight with Chandler. “An announcement soon.”
McGregor seems motivated to continue his fighting career despite suffering a gruesome broken leg that required surgery in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. McGregor is often seen commenting after UFC events, most recently expressing his desire to break Derrick Lewis and Matt Brown’s record for most knockouts in UFC history. McGregor has eight knockouts in the UFC.
“Just get back to it,” McGregor said. “I’ve only got five KOs to go, so I’m almost there already. … I’ll see you soon.”
