Breaking: Conor McGregor announces date for ‘greatest comeback of all time’ — June 29 vs. Michael Chandler

Finally?

Conor McGregor promised us a New Year’s Day fight announcement ... and he has delivered a bit early.

After months of uncertainty and speculation, McGregor claimed he will lock horns with opposing The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 31 coach, Michael Chandler, on UFC’s big “International Fight Week” pay-per-view (PPV) event in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 29, 2024.

The Irish sports star shared the news in a new social media video.

“Ladies and gentlemen, a happy New Years to you all,” a relaxed McGregor said, swirling red wine in a glass. “I’d like to announce the return date for myself, ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor. The greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight Week on June the 29.

“Come a little closer,” he then said to the camera. “And the opponent ... is Michael Chandler. And the weight, Mr. Chandler? 185 pounds.”

McGregor — a former Featherweight and Lightweight champion, who has also competed at 170 pounds against Nate Diaz (twice) — has never hosted a Middleweight bout inside the Octagon. And even though he is currently enormous, Dana White and Co. may or may not be on the same page about its 5’8” box office behemoth jumping up so high.

Regardless, Chandler doesn’t seem to care — he just wants to get paid.

“The Notorious” ended his sultry video announcement with a cackle and a big sip of wine. He and Chandler had gone back-and-forth as coaches on TUF 31 regarding the weight class of their eventual clash. Chandler is a Lightweight, but as mentioned earlier, McGregor has packed on so much muscle over the past two years that the fight was expected to go down above the 155-pound limit.

Middleweight is just too much of a reach.

But, according to Mac, it’ll go down at whatever darn weight he says it will. We’ll see what UFC says about all that, but for now, we have a firm date and firm opponent.

We think.

For the latest TUF 31-related (and Conor McGregor) news and notes click here.