Update on Conor McGregor’s UFC return, how it ties into new MSG co-main event

While there is still no definitive date for when Conor McGregor will return to the UFC, his scheduled opponent is moving on for the time being.

News originally broke in a clip from an upcoming Barstool Sports interview with UFC president Dana White where he revealed to Robbie Fox that Michael Chandler was done waiting and had moved on. Thus, Chandler would not be fighting McGregor in his return.

However, that has already changed.

Fox released another clip where he said White called him and said there was a misunderstanding. Chandler may still fight McGregor in his return, but Chandler wanted to take a fight in the meantime and will be taking on former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in the co-main event of November’s UFC 309 from Madison Square Garden.

CORRECTION: I just got off the phone with Dana White, and there was a slight misunderstanding here. Michael Chandler may still fight Conor in his return next year, but he’s taking another fight first…. https://t.co/HanYNbDN7p pic.twitter.com/zh8CqD6QGu

— Robbie Fox (@RobbieBarstool) September 14, 2024

This week, White said that McGregor was not going to fight the rest of 2024 and would fight “early” in 2025.

The McGregor vs. Chandler fight was originally slated for this past June’s International Fight Week at UFC 303, but a McGregor broken toe derailed that effort.

McGregor’s hasn’t fought since he lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021 while Chandler (the former Bellator lightweight champion) has been on the shelf since November 2022’s UFC 281 when he also lost to Poirier.