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Video – Conor McGregor shows off kick-Heavy sparring in new UFC 303 camp footage: ‘He’s looking smooth with it’

Finally slated to make his return to active competition following an almost three-year hiatus from the Octagon, former undisputed…

Finally slated to make his return to active competition following an almost three-year hiatus from the Octagon, former undisputed two-weight champion, Conor McGregor has been described as looking “smooth” – as he shows off a wide array of kicks in new sparring footage released ahead of his UFC 303 comeback.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight gold holder under the promotion’s banner, is set to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 303 at the end of June during International Fight Week, taking on Michael Chandler in a long-anticipated pairing at the welterweight limit.

Sidelined for the last three years, McGregor most recently dropped a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier after fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a gruesome end-of-round injury.

Conor McGregor shows off kick-heavy sparring pre-UFC 303

Ramping up camp at his home base Straight Blast Gym ahead of his anticipated return, Conor McGregor released sparring footage earlier this month, showing off his striking with UFC CEO, Dana White confirming his June return against Chandler.

connor mcgregor road house 65f9aff14b6b3 1

And this week, the 35-year-old released further before unseen footage, with fans noticing a kick-heavy approach to training, which included a bladed stance, as well as a variation of round kicks and lead hook kicks.

Backed to turn in a victory inside two rounds against Chandler by his long-time head coach, John Kavanagh, McGregor has been backed to approach the bout in a similar stylistic manner to his 2015 clash with Chad Mendes.

And while on-looking fans appear impressed with the Dubliner’s striking game, many have picked Chandler to prevail with his own explosive victory.

“That hook kick reminds of the featherweight days,” An X user posted.

“Conor is looking smooth with it.”

“Conor is so back.”

“Chandler will toy McGregor (sic) for 5 rounds.”

“This is how I spar, and I’m 62.”

“Conor’s gonna go for a head kick for sure! And honest it looks pretty fast, there’s a great chance he catches Chandler.”

Who are you picking to win at UFC 303: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?

Conor McGregor issued stark warning ahead of fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 303: ‘He’s in for a long night’

UFC welterweight Matt Brown breaks down the upcoming Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight. After much anticipation, UFC 303…

UFC welterweight Matt Brown breaks down the upcoming Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight.

After much anticipation, UFC 303 on June 29 will see the return of McGregor to the UFC cage. In a fight that was expected to happen some months ago, the Irishman will take on former No.7 ranked lightweight, Chandler.

The fight will take place almost three years on since his last fight in which he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier. During this time there has also been public concern over McGregor’s use of both performance enhancing and recreational drugs, so it’s unclear what form of Conor McGregor onlookers can expect.

Conor McGregor issued warning ahead of UFC 303 return

Discussing the fight on the latest episode of ‘The Fighter Vs. The Writer’, UFC vet Brown believes McGregor could be in for a rough night.

If Conor’s not at the top of his game, he’s in for a long f****** night because Michael Chandler is not going to make it a fun time for him,”. (H/T Bloody Elbow)

“It’s a huge risk and I think it’s going to be a great night for Chandler, I don’t think it’s going to be easy for him and I think Conor is going to give him some problems, touch him up, but it’s hard to imagine Conor being at this best and you have to be at your best to beat Michael Chandler.”

“Conor in his prime would have loved to fight Michael Chandler but is Conor still that guy?” questioned ‘The Immortal’, later adding that Chandler “is a lion and he’s going to come at you like a god damn cannonball, so he [Conor McGregor] better be training hard.”

Conor McGregor MIchael Chandler TUF UFC Slice — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Whatever McGregor doe show up to fight, it promises to be a show – just like any McGregor event. Recent social media posts do show that McGregor looking trim and training hard in preparation for an always game Chandler.

Do you agree with Matt Brown?

Conor McGregor issued stark warning ahead of fight with Michael Chandler at UFC 303: ‘He’s in for a long night’

UFC welterweight Matt Brown breaks down the upcoming Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight. After much anticipation, UFC 303…

UFC welterweight Matt Brown breaks down the upcoming Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler fight.

Conor McGregor issued warning ahead of UFC 303 return

Discussing the fight on the latest episode of ‘The Fighter Vs. The Writer’, UFC vet Brown believes McGregor could be in for a rough night.

If Conor’s not at the top of his game, he’s in for a long f****** night because Michael Chandler is not going to make it a fun time for him,”. (H/T Bloody Elbow)

Do you agree with Matt Brown?

Conor McGregor again backed to fight for 165lbs title against Michael Chandler at UFC 303: ‘It draws attention’

Receiving official confirmation of his clamoured for UFC 303 at the end June, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor has…

Receiving official confirmation of his clamoured for UFC 303 at the end June, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor has again been backed to fight for an inaugural super lightweight crown at the 165lbs limit – in his slated bout with Michael Chandler.

Dana White claims Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler won't happen until the Fall in UFC

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the promotion, has been sidelined since 2021, yet to return since fracturing his left tibia and fibula in an opening round doctor’s stoppage TKO defeat to common-foe, Dustin Poirier.

And as for Chandler, it’s been almost two years away from action for the Kill Cliff FC staple, who himself has yet to return since he was submitted by the above-mentioned, Poirier in their grudge fight at Madison Square Garden in late 2022.

Conor McGregor backed to compete for 165lbs crown at UFC 303

Finally set to fight the Missouri veteran at UFC 303 in at the end of June atop an International Fight Week card, McGregor – who was selected as an ideal candidate to compete for a would-be inaugural 165lbs crown, has been further backed by former two-division titleholder, Daniel Cormier.

Conor McGregor confirms summer UFC fight against Michael Chandler is set we got confirmation — Mandatory Credit: Dia Dipasupil

“I believe that if they’re [the UFC] going to do a 165lbs division, it should have a name attached to the weight class that is so big that it draws people’s attention,” Daniel Cormier said during an appearance on Good Guy / Bad Guy. “Conor McGregor being that name. Michael Chandler, on the other hand, will benefit from being in the right place at the riht time, where these guys would then fight for the super lightweight championship of the world, because that’s what I believe it is.”

And while Lafayette veteran, Cormier calls for the induction of a super lightweight division, McGregor bout with Chandler has already been nailed down at the welterweight limit of 170lbs, as per an official announcement from promotional CEO, Dana White.

Would you like to see Conor McGregor compete for the first-ever super lightweight title?

Michael Chandler admits career ‘Death sentence’ worry ahead of UFC 303 fight with Conor McGregor

Michael Chandler says his layoff is a concern as it could be a career death sentence for him. Chandler…

Michael Chandler says his layoff is a concern as it could be a career death sentence for him.

Chandler will finally end his layoff in the main event of UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas, Nevada against Conor McGregor. It’s a highly-anticipated fight and one that has been talked about for over a year, as he last competed in November of 2022.

Michael Chandler confirms he's entered camp for fight with Conor McGregor at UFC 302 — Mandatory Credit: Zuffa LLC

Chandler and McGregor coached TUF against one another last year and the hope was the fight would happen then. But, it didn’t come to fruition, and Chandler continued to wait for the scrap, which he admits could hurt him.

Michael Chandler admits hiatus brings worry into UFC 303 return

“I went 688 days without winning a fight, almost two full years without winning a fight. For a mixed martial artist, this could be a career death sentence. That’s when the doubt from everybody plus yourself continues to compound on itself,” Michael Chandler said on The Shawn Ryan Show (via GiveMeSport).

Ring rust has been a factor for several fighters, but Chandler is doing everything he can to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Michael Chander hired a sports psychologist ahead of His return

During the time off, Michael Chandler has revealed he hired a sports psychologist to try and help him out mentally ahead of his return.

Michael Chandler confirms Conor McGregor fight is set for this summer I got the official announcement — Mandatory Credit: Mike Kirschbaum

Chandler believes the mental game is as important as the physical part, so he’s confident it will help him put together a great performance against McGregor.

“I hired a sports psychologist. I really started realizing I can do all the reps and all the sets and all the push-ups and all the lifts and all the sparring and all the sessions. I can do all the physical stuff, but if I’m not building up the mind, I’m really just making a bigger, faster, stronger more dangerous subpar version of the man that I’m supposed to be if I don’t start doing the work inside my mind,” Chandler added.

Chandler enters his UFC 303 main event fight as a -108 pick’em against Conor McGregor who is -112.

Conor McGregor backed as ‘Super sharp’ ahead of return fight at UFC 303: ‘I’d be surprised if we see two rounds’

Finally set to make his long-anticipated return to action at UFC 303 at the end of June, former two-division…

Finally set to make his long-anticipated return to action at UFC 303 at the end of June, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has been described as “super slick” by his head coach, John Kavanagh, who claimed he would surprised if the Dubliner did not finish opponent, Michael Chandler before the second round.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight champion under the banner of the promotion, is finally set to make his return to active competition for the first time in over three years, booking a headlining slot against Chandler at UFC 303 during International Fight Week at the end of June.

Taking on Chandler, McGregor shared time with the former Bellator MMA titleholder during filming on The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year, with the duo serving as opposing coaches.

And set to begin training camp for his fight with the Kill Cliff FC standout, McGregor – who has set up a large training facility at his property in Straffen, recently underwent a random drug test – all while receiving a home-call haircut.

Conor McGregor described as “sharp” ahead of UFC 303 return

Set to roll back into Las Vegas for a blockbuster fight with Chandler this summer, McGregor’s head coach, Kavanagh, claimed his student was looking more than “sharp”, and sees similarities to how the bout could play out with the Crumlin striker’s 2015 knockout win over Chad Mendes.

Conor McGregor vows to quit drinking ahead of UFC 303 five more nights then that's that

“He’s come back on the mats as sharp as ever,” John Kavanagh told Andy Stevenson of Severe MMA regarding Conor McGregor. “Of course, we’ve got to get the rounds in and get the conditioning up so as to be ready for competition, but his technique is as sharp as ever.”

“I see similarities to the (Chad) Mendes fight,” Kavanagh explained. “I’d be surprised if it can go two rounds. I’d be surprised. He just hits too hard. He’s too sharp. Is there gonna be scrappiness and take down stuff? Maybe. But, every round starts on the feet, and his ability to get back there is underestimated. So, I’d be surprised if we see two rounds.”

Who do you think wins at UFC 303: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler?