Conor McGregor confirms UFC future and ideal next opponent
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Conor McGregor has promised to step back into the octagon next year and is aiming to compete in two fights during 2025.
In February 2023, it was revealed that McGregor would be stepping into the ring against Michael Chandler next, but a specific date for the fight wasn't set right away. However, in April, after UFC 300, Dana White announced that McGregor is scheduled to fight Chandler in June.
McGregor voiced his disappointment about the current circumstances but firmly believes he will compete next year.
“It'll be in 2025,” he shared with DAZN at Wembley Stadium while watching Anthony Joshua's surprising loss to Daniel Dubois. “We'll see how things unfold. The opponent I had lined up... well, that's just the way it goes. I accept it and move forward. My responsibility is to hit the gym and stay fit, no matter when or where it happens. I’ll be fully prepared.”
"I need to have two matches in 2025. That's the goal I'm aiming for. As for who I’ll be facing, it really doesn't matter to me. I'm open to anyone. Ideally, I'd like to fight Chandler. I wish him all the best and I’m excited to see what happens."
McGregor, who is 36 years old, last stepped into the ring in 2021, where he suffered a broken leg during his match against Dustin Poirier. Prior to that, about six months before, he faced Poirier and was knocked out.
Chandler, who is 38 years old, has also been sidelined as he waits for McGregor; the American's most recent fight was in November 2022, where he lost to Poirier by submission.
Sharing his disappointment with the recent events, McGregor expressed, "I've undergone testing more than double that of these other UFC fighters, yet I still find it difficult to secure a fight date."
McGregor mentioned that he had reached out to Turki Al-Sheikh, the Saudi advisor who is driving the country's boxing initiatives, for assistance.
Recently, Saudi Arabia has started organizing and financially supporting mixed martial arts events, such as UFC 306 that took place in Las Vegas earlier this month.
