The UFC is poised to bring back its biggest star and perhaps its greatest fighter of all time in 2023, with the returns of Conor McGregor and Jon Jones after years away. There is an important difference between the two, however.
Jones’ return is booked as the former two-time light heavyweight champion will make his heavyweight debut March 4 when he meets Ciryl Gane for the vacant title in the UFC 285 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will be Jones’ first fight since February 2020.
McGregor’s return, on the other hand, isn’t set in stone, but it’s in the works as UFC president Dana White recently announced that the former featherweight and lightweight champion will serve as a coach on Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” opposite Michael Chandler. After the show airs, McGregor is expected to fight Chandler, although nothing has been booked. It would be his first fight since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
It’s a big deal for the UFC to have both Jones and McGregor back in the fold this year, but whose return are you more excited about?
Watch the video above as MMA Junkie staff members Mike Bohn, Brian Garcia, George Garcia, Farah Hannoun, Nolan King, Danny Segura, Dan Tom, and Matthew Wells answer that question.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.
