UFC CEO Dana White has made it a habit of breaking news in his post-fight press conferences and tonight was no different. After a historic event in Las Vegas, White took to the podium and announced two massive PPV events that are coming up this year.
White announced that at UFC 303 on June 29th to conclude International Fight Week, former two-division champion Conor McGregor (22-6) will be facing off against former Bellator champion Michael Chandler (23-8). The fight will take place at welterweight and will be five rounds.
McGregor returned in January 2021 focused and determined to try and climb the mountain again and become UFC champion. He returned against Dustin Poirier and looked great early, but the leg kicks hindered his performance and he lost by TKO. The two had a heated trilogy bout in July where McGregor broke his leg.
McGregor returned to coach The Ultimate Fighter against Michael Chandler and this was always supposed to be the fight but it took forever to come together. This has long been the plan, but the fight has lacked an official announcement. Tonight we got that announcement and it’s all systems go.
UFC International Fight Week
Michael Chandler is finally getting the bout he wanted since he signed with the UFC. Chandler has been asking for this fight since he debuted on Fight Island in 2021 on the same night where McGregor and Poirier fought for the second time. Since coming over to the UFC, Chandler has been a human highlight reel.
He’s had unbelievable fights with Dustin Poirier, Justin Gaethje, and Charles Oliveira. While he’s lost those three fights, he’s had big knockout wins over Tony Ferguson and Dan Hooker. Chandler has become must-see TV and now he’s getting the headline one of the biggest cards of the year against the sport’s biggest star.
He’s been out for a while, but this fight and payday will be well worth the wait for Michael Chandler.