“Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all a Happy New Year!” the Irishman said in a video posted on social media. “I would like to announce the date for the greatest comeback of all time, which will take place on June 29th at International Fight Week in Las Vegas, and my opponent, Michael Chandler. And the weight, Mr. Chandler, is average!”
The American fighter did not ignore his opponent’s statement.
“I’ve always said I want to see you big, dangerous, and the best. Middleweight suits me just fine,” Chandler replied.
Conor McGregor, 35, will return to the octagon three years after his final trilogy matchup with Dustin Puryear, in which he suffered a severe leg fracture, while Michael Chandler, 37, who is ranked fifth in the UFC’s lightweight rankings, hasn’t competed since last November, when he lost to “The Diamond” by rear-naked choke in the third round.
The world’s strongest league doesn’t currently have an event scheduled for June 29 on its calendar, but in theory, the date the Irishman named would coincide with the annual numbered tournament in Las Vegas, which the organization traditionally holds in late June or early July.