Conor McGregor's anticipated return to the UFC will not happen in 2024, as confirmed by UFC CEO Dana White during a post-fight press conference for Dana White's Contender Series. The news comes as a disappointment to fans and followers who were eagerly awaiting McGregor's comeback.
Initial Setup and Disappointment
McGregor was initially slated to step back into the Octagon against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in late June. The fight promised to be a highly-anticipated showdown, considering both fighters’ combat styles and storied careers. The excitement was further heightened by their roles as opposing coaches on season 31 of "The Ultimate Fighter," which commenced filming in February 2023. However, a broken pinky toe McGregor suffered during a training session led to his withdrawal from the UFC 303 event.
The Efforts to Reschedule
Despite considerable efforts to reschedule the fight, it remained elusive. Speculation was rife that the bout might be pushed to December, but White firmly put those rumors to rest. "We talked. We talked. We didn't meet up but we talked, and yeah, he wants to fight. So we'll figure it out. [But] not this year. He won't fight this year," White clarified during the press conference. This statement definitively ruled out any possibility of McGregor fighting in 2023.
McGregor's Recent Performance
For McGregor, who last saw UFC victory against Donald Cerrone, the break comes as another hiccup in a career marred by stoppages and legal troubles. Since his remarkable ascension to UFC stardom, McGregor's record has been a rollercoaster. Post-November 2016, his record stands at 1-3. The only victory in this stretch was during his 40-second bout against Cerrone in January 2020. This contributes to an overarching narrative of a fighter who has been unable to relive past glories, coupled with his frequent teases of retirement.
Michael Chandler's Journey
Michael Chandler, on the other hand, has not had a significantly better fortune lately. His last fight took place in November 2022, where he faced a submission defeat to Dustin Poirier. Chandler's recent UFC run mirrors McGregor's, as he also chalks up a 1-3 record over his last four fights. These statistics add another layer of intrigue and disappointment to the build-up and subsequent delay of the McGregor-Chandler fight.
The Long Road to the Fight
The road to the McGregor-Chandler clash has been fraught with delays and uncertainties. Each postponement further dampened the anticipation surrounding the matchup. However, the tension between the fighters, as demonstrated through their stint on "The Ultimate Fighter," assured that the eventual bout would be a spectacle. Fans, though, will now have to wait longer than expected to witness this encounter unfold in the Octagon.
For now, both fighters find themselves in uncertain terrain. McGregor, recovering from the broken pinky toe, is likely to spend significant time re-evaluating his career trajectory. Similarly, Chandler has his own sets of challenges to strategize around as he prepares for future fights.
The extended wait unquestionably adds to the suspense, but it also prompts questions about both fighters’ willingness and ability to make it back to top performance levels. As UFC continues to grow in popularity and competition intensifies, both McGregor and Chandler will need more than just training—they'll need to reignite their past fierceness and focus to meet the high expectations set upon them.
Until then, the UFC community remains in a state of eager anticipation. As Dana White reassured, "We’ll figure it out." It remains to be seen when, but the promise of a McGregor-Chandler fight is a card UFC fans would love to keep an eye on.