Conor McGregor claims he’s returning to the octagon on International Fight Week against Michael Chandler, which was somewhat what most people expected. However, what took people by surprise was the division in which McGregor alleges the fight will take place.
On Sunday, McGregor said that his return fight against Chandler will go down at 185 pounds – a division neither fighter has ever competed in.
Chandler has long fought at lightweight and McGregor made his name mainly fighting at both featherweight and lightweight with a trio of fights at welterweight. The UFC has yet to make any official announcement on the matter.
Below are some of the reactions the MMA community had towards McGregor’s alleged return:
Conor McGregor
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 31, 2023
Michael Chandler
I always said I wanted you at your biggest, your baddest and your best. 185 would look good on me.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 31, 2023
Don’t forget who was a natural featherweight who started his UFC career fighting cherry-picked bantamweights.
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) December 31, 2023
Paulo Costa
I gonna step in replacing chandler https://t.co/6YbC4tlCzc
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) December 31, 2023
Chandler at 185 will looks like mini Iranian hulk pic.twitter.com/brvahYSHBj
— Paulo Costa ( Borrachinha ) (@BorrachinhaMMA) December 31, 2023
Danny Segura
Middleweight makes no sense, I really hope that's not the case.
I love the McGregor-Chandler matchup, but a result there means nothing at 185 pounds. Get it somehow at 155 and we're talking. https://t.co/yjxuNOh46l
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) December 31, 2023
Brendan Schaub
Odds this fight actually happens AND 185lbs….? 🤔 https://t.co/VgHve6LW66
— Brendan Schaub (@BrendanSchaub) December 31, 2023
Mike Bohn
If this happens at middleweight, @TheNotoriousMMA would join Diego Sanchez & Kenny Florian as only fighters in UFC history to fight in four weight classes (only Florian won in four).
Sanchez & Florian both started at 185 and went down. McGregor started at 145 and has escalated. https://t.co/6hZ6TYsZP2
— Mike Bohn (@MikeBohn) December 31, 2023
Terrance McKinney
That was prolly the most underwhelming piece of fight news ever
— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) December 31, 2023
Ariel Helwani
International Fight Week is in fact slated for June 29 in Vegas. First time that IFW will be in June. It’s usually that first or second Saturday in July.
McGregor wanted to fight at 300. He pushed hard for it. He was ready, I’m told. But after meeting with the brass last week…
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 31, 2023
Brian Kelleher
Every fighters dream. No weight cut and a life changing future secure pay day. Congrats Michael chandler
— Brian BOOM Kelleher (@brianboom135) December 31, 2023
Brett Okamoto
Just got off the phone with Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA). He watched Conor's announcement of their fight on June 29 with me on speaker.
He laughed as it played and (regarding the 185 stipulation) said, "Here we go. Any weight is good with me."
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) December 31, 2023
Will Harris
Conor Mcgregor: Breathes
Michael Chandler: Yessssssssssssssss
— Anatomy of a Fighter (@WillHarrisAOAF) December 31, 2023
Jack Slack
3 years later and 2 weight classes up, what a deeply unserious fight https://t.co/6kysNvWHR2
— Jack Slack (@JackSlackMMA) December 31, 2023
Shaheen Al-Shatti
Never made sense for Conor's return to be on UFC 300. 1) That's a big enough card anyway, they really don't need him. 2) That event will be stacked with multiple title bouts and UFC has been loath to let other champs share in the McGregor PPV point bonanza since UFC 205.
— Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) December 31, 2023
John Kavanagh
Very telling the biggest sports announcement of the year from a global mega star came on X rather than Instagram (yup outta dah @elonmusk )
Also that laugh 🤣 pic.twitter.com/cn4fv2Go2L
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) December 31, 2023
