Tag: Michael Chandler

Officially booked to make his Octagon return this summer atop a UFC 303 card in June, former two-division champion, Conor McGregor has vowed to quit drinking in five days time – as he begins his training camp ahead of a clash with Michael Chandler during International Fight Week. 

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight and featherweight titleholder under the banner of the promotion, is finally set to make his highly-anticipated return to the Octagon this summer in a grudge fight with rival, Chandler, with the pair headlining UFC 303 in a welterweight scrap.

Sidelined for the prior three years, McGregor has been out of action since he fractured his left tibia and fibula in a first round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to common-foe, Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in the duo’s trilogy rubber match.

And without a victory since a 2020 knockout win over Donald Cerrone in his most recent welterweight outing, McGregor is tasked with preventing a three-fight skid as he takes on former lightweight title challenger, Chandler.

Conor McGregor vows to stop drinking ahead of UFC 303

Remaining supremely confident of stopping the Missouri native in his comeback to the Octagon, counter striking veteran, McGregor appeared to hint at an upcoming period of sobriety – vowing to quit drinking in five days time, ahead of his UFC 303 clash with Chandler.

“My brother @justinbieber, the Mac has your back for life!” Conor McGregor posted on his official Instagram account. “From Beverly Hills to the Bahamas! See you in Vegas bro, it’s game on, the Mac is back! Five more nights on the delicious and then that be that see ya’s tonight. I’M NOT F*CKING LEAVING @properwhiskey @forgedirishstout @jennifersalke”

Training at his home gym base in Straffen earlier this week, McGregor was subject to a random drug test from new promotional partners, Drug Free Sport International – before praising last night’s win from Ryan Garcia against massive betting favorite, Devin Haney, urging the Californian to “drink responsibly every night” amid scrutiny over of his mental state.

Do you think Conor McGregor can defeat Michael Chandler at UFC 303?

Returning to training at his home in County Kildare, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor is preparing for his return to the Octagon in June at UFC 303, as he takes on Michael Chandler, but was sprung with a random drug test ahead of his return – as well as taking time to get a fresh haircut ahead of training.

McGregor, a former undisputed lightweight champion and featherweight titleholder under the banner of the promotion, finally received official confirmation of his long-anticipated return over the course of last weekend.

Calling his shot for a comeback during International Fight Week at the end of June, McGregor is officially set to headline UFC 303 against Missouri native, Chandler, with the pair taking the stage at the welterweight limit.

Conor McGregor submits another drug testing sample

Training alongside PFL (Professional Fighters League) feature Pedro Carvalho at Straight Blast Gym last week before the announcement of his own return, McGregor, who has setup his own home gym base on his property in Straffen – was the subject of an anti-doping test by Drug Free Sport International ahead of his UFC return, posting pictures of him training – as well as receiving a home haircut on his official Instagram account. 

Sidelined since 2021, McGregor most recently headlined UFC 264 in a trilogy rubber match against common-foe, Dustin Poirier, suffering a first round TKO loss via doctor’s stoppage after he fractured his left tibia and fibula at the end of the first frame.

Without a victory since the year prior, McGregor’s most recent win came at the welterweight limit – turning in a 40-second high-kick and strikes TKO win over Hall of Fame star, Donald Cerrone in the pair’s main event fight.

Who wins in June’s massive UFC 303 headliner: Conor McGregor or Michael Chandler? 

UFC lightweight Michael Chandler discusses the idea of fighting for the rumoured 165lb title. 

After an extremely drawn-out process, UFC CEO Dana White finally made the official announcement of Conor McGregor’s return. During the UFC 300 post-fight press conference, White was handed a note of paper from which he read that McGregor would face Chandler in the main event of UFC 303 during International Fight Week. 

This comes after a season of The Ultimate Fighter, multiple ‘announcements’ and will take place much later than promised.

Michael Chandler eyes 165lb title fight with Conor McGregor

Talking with TheMacLife, Chandler would discuss his upcoming fight against McGregor which is set to take place at the welterweight limit. However, Michael Chandler said he would not be surprised if the UFC were to introduce a 165lbs division to host the bout.

“That was one of the rumours as well, the 165 belt, obviously, that has not happened,” Chandler said. “Even me in this position, man, I would not be surprised if that bout agreement comes over and it says for the 165 title. You never know because the UFC has to keep a lot of things secret. Even to us, right? I mean, you saw Conor broke the announcement again before the UFC did it. I’m sure the UFC said, ‘Hey, don’t do it because we’re gonna do it at the post-fight press conference.’ In typical Conor fashion.”

Continuing, Chandler confessed that he was in the dark on some of the information regarding the fight and feels a fight of this magnitude should be for a title. 

“They want to hold a lot of the information,” he continued. “We knew the date. I knew what the weight class most likely was going to be, and then they sent it over. It should be for a belt, but we’ll see if we can’t make one up.”

Do you think Michael Chandler vs.  Conor McGregor should be for a title?

UFC lightweight Michael Chandler discusses the idea of fighting for the rumoured 165lb title. 

After an extremely drawn-out process, UFC CEO Dana White finally made the official announcement of Conor McGregor’s return. During the UFC 300 post-fight press conference, White was handed a note of paper from which he read that McGregor would face Chandler in the main event of UFC 303 during International Fight Week. 

This comes after a season of The Ultimate Fighter, multiple ‘announcements’ and will take place much later than promised.

Michael Chandler eyes 165lb title fight with Conor McGregor

Talking with TheMacLife, Chandler would discuss his upcoming fight against McGregor which is set to take place at the welterweight limit. However, Michael Chandler said he would not be surprised if the UFC were to introduce a 165lbs division to host the bout.

“That was one of the rumours as well, the 165 belt, obviously, that has not happened,” Chandler said. “Even me in this position, man, I would not be surprised if that bout agreement comes over and it says for the 165 title. You never know because the UFC has to keep a lot of things secret. Even to us, right? I mean, you saw Conor broke the announcement again before the UFC did it. I’m sure the UFC said, ‘Hey, don’t do it because we’re gonna do it at the post-fight press conference.’ In typical Conor fashion.”

Continuing, Chandler confessed that he was in the dark on some of the information regarding the fight and feels a fight of this magnitude should be for a title. 

“They want to hold a lot of the information,” he continued. “We knew the date. I knew what the weight class most likely was going to be, and then they sent it over. It should be for a belt, but we’ll see if we can’t make one up.”

Do you think Michael Chandler vs.  Conor McGregor should be for a title?