- Conor McGregor revealed he will face Michael Chandler in his UFC return
- Pair will face off in Las Vegas during UFC's International Fight Week card on June 29
- Jake Paul would miss an opportunity if he switched to MMA – The hook
Conor McGregor has announced he will face Michael Chandler in his long-awaited return to competition.
McGregor has been inactive since suffering a broken tibia in his 2021 trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier, but has since returned to training and is preparing for a return to the Octagon.
In a video on his social media, McGregor revealed he will face the former lightweight challenger during the UFC's International Fight Week card on June 29.
The pair were the opposing coaches on the 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter last year and fans have been anticipating a date for their showdown ever since.
Chandler had previously expressed concern that McGregor would instead attempt to complete his trilogy with Nate Diaz, a fight he called an “easier fight” for the 35-year-old.
Conor McGregor has revealed details about his long-awaited UFC return in a social media post
The Irishman announced that he will face Michael Chandler on June 29 in Las Vegas
The fight will take place during the promotion's flagship International Fight Week event
McGregor also revealed that the fight will take place in the 185-pound weight class, a division in which neither he nor Chandler have fought before.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Happy New Year to you all.” McGregor said in one video posted on X.
“I would like to announce the return date for myself, 'The Notorious' Conor McGregor.
'The greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas during International Fight Week on June 29 and the opponent, Michael Chandler.
“And the weight, Mr. Chandler, 185 pounds.”
After becoming a two-weight world champion in Cage Warriors, McGregor signed with the UFC in 2013 and went on a dominant run in the featherweight division, reeling off five straight victories before defeating Chad Mendes to claim the interim featherweight title.
In McGregor's last fight at 145 pounds, he stunningly defeated the long-reigning champion after just 13 seconds to unify the belts.
The former two-weight world champion added that the fight will take place at 185 pounds, a weight neither he nor Chandler have fought before.
McGregor has been preparing for a return to competition since recovering from a leg injury suffered in his last UFC fight
The 35-year-old recently suggested he could make another foray into professional boxing
Since then, the Irishman has fought at both 155 and 170 pounds, defeating Eddie Alvarez in the former to become the first-ever dual-weight UFC world champion.
International Fight Week has been a fixture on the UFC calendar since 2011, when the event was headlined by UFC 148, which saw Chael Sonnen rematch Anderson Silva.
Last year's Las Vegas event included a Hall of Fame ceremony, a two-day fan experience and a UFC 290 card headlined by featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski's clash with Yair Rodriguez.