The Notorious returns to the octagon at the end of June

Conor McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the Octagon at the end of this month and has sent Michael Chandler a brief message ahead of their clash at UFC 303.

The Notorious last fought in 2021 with the second of his losses to Dustin Poirier and has not been in a professional MMA bout since.

In that time, he has featured in a remake of the 1989 film Road House, starring alongside Jake Gyllenhaal as he made his acting debut.

The 35-year-old former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight champion boasts a professional MMA record of 22 wins from 28 fights.

Of those victories, 19 have been by knockout, while one was by submission and the other two by decision.

Of McGregor’s six losses, two were by knockout and four have been by submission.

However, his last two bouts at UFC 257 and UFC 264 have ended in defeat at the hands of Poirier, both of which were knockouts, with one by punches and the other coming with a doctor stoppage.

All eyes will be on the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada on June 29 when McGregor takes on Chandler, in a Welterweight bout which is expected to headline UFC 303.

Chandler boasts a record of 23 wins from 31 fights, while he too lost his last bout at UFC 281, also at the hands of Poirier.

There have been suggestions that the fight might not take place owing to a potential injury that McGregor may be nursing, but Chandler has cooled those suggestions and confirmed the bout is still due to take place as scheduled at UFC 303 on June 29.

Chandler said: “I got this fight coming up. Hope – eh, yeah. Allegedly. No we – yeah, the fight’s happening. Obviously, where we are right now – yeah, there’s a lot of speculation, but the fight is on, June 29. It’s happening.

“He is historically always a very exciting, explosive guy right out of the gate.

“I promise you I will be explosive and run toward the centre of that Octagon on June 29. right when the fight starts.

“You’re going to see two guys who are going to get into a head-on collision car crash. May the best man win.”

And taking to Instagram, McGregor posted a picture of him training, alongside an assurance the fight will be happening.

The Notorious wrote: “Shark Grey Pinstrike in the blood soaked Octagon.

“Triple comma companies all over it. See ya’s soon… @ufc.”

If the man himself has said it, it looks like it’s happening.

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Featured Image Credit: Getty

Topics: UFC, Conor McGregor, MMA, Michael Chandler