The long-awaited Conor McGregor next fight news is in as the former two-division UFC champion has officially booked his return to action following a disappointing loss in July 2021.
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But before he steps into the Octagon, the Irishman will first coach in the next season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and then face the opposing coach later in the year. But who will be that man waiting to face him in his Octagon comeback?
Who is Conor McGregor’s next fight against?
After nearly 20 months of recovery from broken bones in his leg suffered during a 2021 loss to Dustin Poirier, McGregor will be back in the cage later this year, and welcoming him back will be multi-time Bellator lightweight champion and UFC star Michael Chandler.
It is a booking Chandler has pushed for ever since joining the company in 2020, and he will finally get it and then some with both facing off as coaches in season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” The new season of TUF: Team McGregor vs. Team Chander will air on Tuesdays at 10 PM ET on ESPN+, starting May 30.
How to watch McGregor vs Chandler
- McGregor vs Chandler will serve as the main event of a TBD UFC event in 2023
- A date, venue, and location for the fight have not yet been announced
- The fight will air exclusively on ESPN+ pay-per-view for a price of $79.99
Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler preview
Conor McGregor versus Michael Chandler is a bout fight fans around the world had hoped to see for some time. Despite rumors in January that one-time interim UFC champ Tony Ferguson would compete against the 34-year-old on TUF, the actual winner of the McGregor fight sweepstakes will be Chandler.
The Ultimate Fighter 31: This won’t be McGregor’s first time coaching on the long-running reality series. In 2015, the MMA superstar coached opposite of bantamweight great Uriah Faber and delivered entertaining moments as he clashed with the 135-pound legend. However, those two were never meant to fight.
With Chandler set to be his actual opponent after the show comes to a close, expect the Irishman to offer up a heavy dose of mind games during episodes of the series.
Clash of Styles: Each man has become hugely popular off their fight-finishing abilities. However, both get it done in very different ways. While they are both gifted strikers, McGregor is an elite-level counter-puncher with serious power and strong accuracy. On the other hand, Chandler is explosive and powerful but is also very durable and can take a lot of damage so he can deal out some of his own.
- McGregor vs Chandler betting odds: McGregor (-110), Chandler (-110)
It will be a fight fan’s dream to see which style wins out on fight night.
Is Conor McGregor fighting in 2023?
Yes, the “Notorious” one is expected to compete in 2023. While the date is still not official, when he does return, that will be a big moment for the UFC and the sport of MMA in general because he generates serious interest and revenue even on a losing streak. What makes it all the better is the fact that this is a fight that many fans have wanted and is likely to deliver a definitive finish.
What makes Conor McGregor so popular?
A one-of-a-kind talent: McGregor has become an icon of fight sports through his uncanny ability to promote fights and his outstanding skills inside the cage. It has helped him cultivate a massive fanbase that shows up each time he competes. He may not be the best MMA fighter of all time but he is certainly the most famous.
- Conor McGregor record: 22-6 (19 knockouts, 1 submission)
- Conor McGregor age: 33 years old
- Conor McGregor height: 5-foot-8
- Conor McGregor wife: Dee Devlin has been married to McGregor since 2020 and is the mother of his two children
- How many fights has McGregor lost? The Irishman has six career losses. The most notable of them has come to UFC greats like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier (twice).
- Over his first seven fights in the Octagon, McGregor was a 145-pound wrecking machine. Scoring knockouts in all but one of his bouts at featherweight.
- Despite his shock submission loss to Nate Diaz in 2016, McGregor hit his MMA zenith a year and a half later when he beat the lightweight champ, Eddie Alvarez, to become the first man to hold UFC titles in two divisions simultaneously.
- McGregor’s combat sport high point came in a boxing loss to Mayweather, Jr. in 2017. In defeat, the Irishman was part of the second most successful pay-per-view in combat sports history.
- After his foray into boxing, McGregor lost three of his next four fights. Including back-to-back against Poirier, and a massive failure to lightweight GOAT Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018.
- The MMA superstar has also had quite a few low points outside the Octagon. From throwing a dolly at a bus in Barclay’s Center to trying to slap Machine Gun Kelly at the 2021 VMA awards. McGregor can be a public relations nightmare at times.
- “Notorious” will make his film debut in a remake of the Patrick Swayze cult classic “Road House.” This movie will film this year for a 2023 release on Amazon Prime.
- In just a few years, McGregor co-founded the Irish whiskey brand Proper 12 and turned it into one of the most recognized adult beverage brands in the world using his elite skills at self-promotion.
- “Notorious” will soon be getting the Netflix treatment as the streaming giant will release a documentary on his recovery and return from a broken leg in 2023.
How much is Conor McGregor worth?
In being the most famous cage fighter in MMA history, “Notorious” has stacked up a lot of green during his career. However, he has also used his money and notoriety smartly to add to his worth and that showed when he made millions off selling the Irish whiskey brand he co-founded Proper 12.
Heading into 2023, Conor McGregor’s current net worth is estimated to be nearly $200 million.