Michael Chandler has confirmed his UFC fight with Conor McGregor will take place at 170lb later this year.
McGregor has yet to compete in the octagon since breaking his leg in a secon consecutive defeat by Dustin Poirier in July 2021, but he has since made a return to training. His return to full training has now coincided with an official announcement of his comeback fight against Michael Chandler with the pair set to do battle on the UFC's The Ultimate Fighter series.
The American has been campaigning for a clash with McGregor for several months and even suggested he would move up to 170lb to meet his potential rival. The former double-champion has piled on the pounds since being out of action and suggested publicly that he would likely return at 170lb after showing off a stocky new physique.
Chandler has now admitted the added weight will also play into his favour as he now struggles to cut to 155lb. "The fight will be at 170lb that is true," Chandler admitted during an interview on Bussin' with the Boys when discussing his upcoming contest. I'm sitting here at around 190lb right now, I'd love to fight at 170lb. It's fantastic and hopefully it is in Las Vegas.
"Conor McGregor famously only really fights in Las Vegas, and I want to experience a Vegas fight week. It will be one hundred times different than any other fight. I knew Conor had expressed interest in fighting me before this and that was my approach to it. I wasn't going to trash-talk him by poking the bear, he doesn't need to fight anybody that calls him a name.
"We heard some rumblings, and then we heard he was going to be coaching on The Ultimate Fighter so I thought it has to be me. I got a phone call and I got the nod so with a week of patience I got the fight. I've always wanted to do The Ultimate Fighter too and it's Conor McGregor the biggest fight I could possibly ask for."
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A fight between McGregor and Chandler could be delayed however with the Irishman currently remaining absent from the USADA testing pool. Fighters are required to be enrolled for six-months before competing and despite suggesting he may try to find a loophole, McGregor remains outside of the pool.
The organisation said in a statement to MMA Fighting: “As we’ve confirmed before, as of today, Conor McGregor has not been reenrolled in the USADA testing pool, which he would have to be in for a minimum of six months and have at least two negative tests prior to any competition.”
