22 January 2024 , 12:37
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UFC CEO Dana White has denied Conor McGregor will fight Michael Chandler in June - despite the Irishman's announcement.
McGregor has not fought since he broke his leg in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He was initially expected to return against Chandler last December but his comeback has repeatedly been delayed. The Irishman recently insisted the fight was set for June 29 and that he and Chandler would compete at middleweight.
"Ladies and gentlemen, a happy new year to you all," McGregor said earlier this month. "I'd like to announce the return date for myself, The Notorious Conor McGregor for the greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight week on June 29. Come a little closer... and the opponent is Michael Chandler. And the weight, Mr Chandler 185lb."
But when asked about McGregor's claim at UFC 297, White said: "No, when Conor is ready to fight, you know we’ll announce it. That’s what we’ll do."
Chandler had also seemed confident he would fight McGregor this summer. "I have 100 per cent confidence that I am fighting Conor McGregor on June 29," he told ESPN. "It’s a crazy sport, injuries and sicknesses happen with anybody. The fight isn’t happening until both of us are in the cage and the first bell rings. With Conor, one thing I will give him credit for is has he ever pulled out a fight?
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"People can say what they want to be at Conor I have no problem giving him props, he does what he says he’s going to do when it comes to fighting. Who he’s fighting, where here’s fighting and what weight he’s fighting. That’s one thing I have 100 per cent confidence and one thing I will tip my hat to him on."
McGregor and Chandler faced each other as coaches in the latest series of The Ultimate Fighter. But unlike after previous shows, they did not face each other following the series' completion, meaning it could be up to a year after the final fight when the coaches share the cage.