Conor McGregor recently took a dig at his UFC rival Michael Chandler by sharing a post comparing their physique at 185 pounds. “The Notorious” has asserted previously that his highly anticipated comeback clash against Chandler will be the highlight of UFC’s International Fight Week on June 29. The fight is not yet officially confirmed by the UFC, but McGregor insisted that it would be fought in the middleweight division, which is symbolic for both fighters as they made their debut in that weight class.
Known for significant weight gain after gaining 155 pounds during his fights, Chandler has gained up to 30 pounds just weeks after some of his fights. He is known to train, whether he actively fights or not.
McGregor mocking Chandler
One fan posted a side-by-side photo of Chandler’s physique next to McGregor’s and captioned it: “Michael Chandler at 185 pounds vs. Conor McGregor at 185 pounds,” prompting McGregor’s reaction. The Irishman did not only retweeted the image but also added a caption saying “Coming soon to PPV muhahahahah.” This tweet from McGregor has evoked different types of reactions among the fans. Some recalled McGregor’s emphasis on skill over physique in the past while others continued to encourage him to return soon.
The fight is not yet officially announced
Initially, there were rumors that McGregor would make his return at the historic UFC 300, but later, the former UFC champion announced that he would make his return during International Fight Week in the summer. However, UFC president Dana White said that the specific date and opponent for McGregor’s fight have not been confirmed. Chandler revealed that he had already begun preparations for a potential McGregor fight, although this has not been officially confirmed.
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The two fighters served as opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series last year, yet the UFC has been unable to officially announce the clash.
McGregor is on a two-and-a-half-year recovery journey after suffering a leg break against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. His prolonged absence from the sport led to his removal from the USADA’s mandatory drug-testing pool. Although he re-entered the pool in October, the UFC severed ties with USADA at the end of 2023 and began a new drug testing program in 2024. Despite McGregor ignoring Chandler for a significant portion of the last year, the “Mystic Mac” has taken aim at him in several social media posts in the run-up to their fight.
