UFC star Conor McGregor vows to face Michael Chandler this summer

Conor McGregor could make a return to the Octagon relatively soon after his film debut.

The former two-time UFC champion and biggest star in the sport's history told ESPN on Tuesday that he will return to action this summer, against Michael Chandler. The exact date and event are not yet known.

“We got confirmation a few days ago that everything was in order,” said McGregor, who is promoting his first acting role in the film “Road House,” which premieres March 21 on Amazon Prime. “And ‘The Mac,’ ‘The Notorious’ will be back in the UFC Octagon this summer.”

The UFC has yet to officially announce McGregor's return. McGregor vs. Chandler has long been the plan, dating back to last year when they trained opposite each other on the reality show The Ultimate Fighter. McGregor previously said the fight would take place on June 29 at UFC 303.

Chandler has often called out McGregor publicly, including on an episode of WWE's “Monday Night Raw” last month. The UFC and WWE are sister companies under the publicly traded TKO Group banner, owned by Hollywood media agency Endeavor.

“Shut up, Michael, you idiot,” McGregor said. The man don't shut up. I saw him on 'Raw.' I love Mike — I'm going to take him down. I'm going to take Mike down, yeah? If I say it, I do it… . If I say it, it's done. Put that on my stone.”

McGregor initially said in January that the fight would take place at 185 pounds. He fought most of his career at 145, 155 and 170 pounds. McGregor said Tuesday that he was having a bit of fun with Chandler regarding weight and wasn't sure what weight class the fight would ultimately take place in.

Regardless, McGregor said he's happy to be able to start training seriously again.

“I had [my training] camping in Dubai [months ago], I had a camp in Cannes,” McGregor said. “I was preparing, and then I was kind of getting nothing in return. And then other things happened and I kind of dove in. But now it's gone. So there is no more mess now. I can't go out now.”

McGregor, 35, has not fought since breaking his left leg in a fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. He is currently in New York promoting “Road House,” but he has said he plans to cycle in Central Park as a cardio workout and has already hit it with his boxing trainer, Phil Sutcliffe.

McGregor (22-6) was the UFC's first simultaneous double champion, holding both the lightweight and featherweight titles in 2016. The Ireland native has headlined some of the most major pay-per-views in combat sports history, including a 2017 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. Upon his return, McGregor will be looking for just his second MMA victory in the last eight years.

Regarding his future beyond the next fight, McGregor said he has two fights remaining on his UFC contract. He would love to fight Chandler and then his old rival Nate Diaz on the UFC's Mexican Independence Day card in September, which is scheduled as the first combat sports event at the Sphere in Las Vegas.

“I think it’s absolute perfection of a fight,” McGregor said of Diaz at the Sphere.

If these fights come to fruition, McGregor said he isn't sure what circumstances might arise.

“Are we signing a new agreement?” McGregor said about the UFC. “Am I going? Am I a free agent? I love the UFC a lot. My heart is in the UFC – my catalog, my life. I love everyone in the company and all the fighters and all the events and all the shows and “Cards. I want to continue this. What that looks like, I have no idea. “

McGregor said he's not sure what happens after that, but he expects there to be “more fights”, as well as films – as the leading man. McGregor stars as the villain in “Road House,” alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. He said he liked the idea of ​​playing multiple types of roles in different films, like Arnold Schwarzenegger or Sylvester Stallone.

“I definitely think there are a lot of great films that could revolve around me, as well as unique films,” McGregor said. “There are Stallone films, Schwarzenegger films. There could really be McGregor films and it could be a wide range of films, and that would really shine a light on the game.”