2024 is off to a great start for the UFC, and the promotion is likely to have an even better year than ever before, considering all the upcoming events lined up and potential fights to be made. However, one of the biggest rumors regarding this year remains the supposed return of ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor, who is set to take on Michael Chandler.
The pair has been expected to face off ever since they coached the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter together. Despite several rumors, the official fight date remains unannounced, a situation that has seemed to frustrate both fans and the fighters involved.
Conor McGregor urges UFC and Dana White to book return bout
McGregor last stepped foot inside the octagon against Dustin Poirer in their trilogy bout in 2021, where the Irishman suffered a horrendous leg injury. Ever since then, both his supporters and Conor himself have been eager for a much waited comeback.
McGregor kept calling out several fighters, but no hope was seen for a potential matchup until he agreed to coach The Ultimate Fighter alongside Chandler.Since last year, both Chandler and McGregor have urged the company to book a fight but not to much avail. But the biggest progress in the making of this matchup was McGregor taking it in his own hands to announce the fight date.
The Irishman announced that his return will take place on June 29th in International Fight Week, which would be held in Las Vegas. However, this date was not and still hasn’t been confirmed by the company, leading to further frustration.
McGregor has not stopped on insisting for the fight to take place as he announced. In a recent interview, he openly requested the UFC to “get the ball rolling” on the fight. Currently busy with his movie ‘RoadHouse’ alongside Jake Gyllenhaal, which is set to be released on March 21st, McGregor mentioned that he plans to go into fight camp along with his team immediately following the movie release.
Fans furious with Dana White
The UFC president, Dana White, and the company as a whole are known for making the best matchups right when they should take place. However, with the return of their biggest star still not announced, the fanbase has begun expressing dissatisfaction with White.
The UFC president has been accused of acting “cheap,” and many suggest that the delay in the fight announcement is designed to sign another contract with McGregor before he fights again.
The time seems to have finally come for The Notorious to step foot inside the octagon and produce what can be one of the biggest fights in UFC history. The company should try its best in making it official before this mega fight potentially runs out of their reach.
