UFC fans have been eagerly waiting for the return of Conor McGregor, and their wait is finally over as Dana White has confirmed that the Irishman will be back in the Octagon in 2024. However, the specific opponent and date for the fight have not yet been revealed.In December 2023, Conor McGregor announced on social media that he would be announcing his fight date and opponent on New Year’s Day, 2024.
He also hinted at a potential matchup against Michael Chandler at 185 pounds during International Fight Week on June 29 in Las Vegas. However, Dana White has not yet confirmed this specific fight.Despite the lack of official confirmation, both fighters have expressed interest in the matchup. Chandler, whose last UFC bout was a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022, has said that he would fight McGregor at any weight.
McGregor, on the other hand, has called his upcoming fight with Chandler the “greatest comeback of all time”.However, it’s important to note that both fighters have traditionally fought below 185 pounds, with McGregor’s titles coming at 145 and 155 pounds and Chandler fighting at 155 in each of his five career UFC bouts. But Chandler has said that he would fight McGregor “at any weight”.Nate Diaz, who has faced McGregor twice, has also hinted at a potential matchup against the Irishman for his highly anticipated return to the UFC.
Diaz last made an Octagon appearance in a submission win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279 in September 2022 in what was believed to potentially be the final fight of his UFC career.Despite the lack of official confirmation, Dana White has confirmed that Conor McGregor will be returning to the Octagon in 2024. Fans will have to wait for further updates on his highly anticipated return to the UFC.
Reason behind Conor Mcgregor’s absence from the UFC
Conor McGregor has been absent from the UFC since July 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in a trilogy match against Dustin Poirier. While he has since returned to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) testing pool, he has yet to be booked for his return to the Octagon.There have been various speculations regarding the reason behind McGregor’s absence, with some suggesting financial obstacles as a potential factor. UFC bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley has pointed out that the kind of deal the UFC might have with the Irishman, who was Forbes’ highest-earning athlete in 2021, could be restrictive or detrimental for the promotion.
Dana White, UFC president, has denied that the delay in McGregor’s return is due to his desire to re-sign the Irishman to a longer contract. However, White has not yet revealed the specific reason behind McGregor’s absence.McGregor himself has expressed his frustration with the delay in his return, teasing a shift to boxing and calling out multiple opponents. Meanwhile, his potential matchup against Michael Chandler, who starred opposite McGregor as rival coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show earlier this year, has been a topic of discussion.
However, Chandler has suggested that McGregor might try to “wait him out” in an attempt to draw an “easier” opponent like Nate Diaz.Despite McGregor’s absence, the UFC has continued to thrive financially, with a record revenue increase of 13% in 2023, totaling $1.3 billion. However, booking a fight for McGregor’s return to competition has proven to be difficult, with White stating that it’s hard to do so when “Conor McGregor doesn’t need the money”.
In conclusion, while there have been various speculations regarding the reason behind Conor McGregor’s absence from the UFC, the specific reason has not yet been revealed by Dana White or the UFC. Despite the delay in his return, the UFC has continued to thrive financially, with McGregor’s potential return generating considerable buzz