Conor McGregor announces ‘greatest comeback of all time’

Conor McGregor will fight in the UFC for the first time in two years with the former world champion’s next fight announced.

Conor McGregor has announced he will make his UFC return on June 29 against Michael Chandler.

McGregor took to social media on Monday morning to say he will fight Chandler on International Fight Week after months of speculation.

And with a menacing laugh he claimed the bout will be at the 185lb middleweight limit — a career heaviest for the pair., The Sun reports.

Holding a glass of red wine, said: “Ladies and gentlemen, a happy new year to you all.

“I’d like to announce the return date for myself, The Notorious Conor McGregor for the greatest comeback of all time will take place in Las Vegas for International Fight week on June the 29th.

“Come a little closer... and the opponent is Michael Chandler. And the weight, Mr Chandler 185 pounds.”

pic.twitter.com/Jje2yYoQoE

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 31, 2023

McGregor, 35, has been out of action since July 2021 after he broke his leg in round one against Dustin Poirier, 34.

But he made a full recovery and returned to training with comeback rumours shortly following.

Having been out of the UFC’s year-round random drug testing pool, McGregor was required to re-enrol.

Conor McGregor poses during a ceremonial weigh in for UFC 264. Photo: Stacy Revere/Getty Images/AFP.

But he only did so in October and would need six months of clean testing before he was eligible to make a return.

By that time, he had already coached against Chandler on reality TV series The Ultimate Fighter.

As time went on, concern was raised over whether the fight would go ahead or a new opponent would be found.

But McGregor and UFC president Dana White insisted it would be Chandler, 37, to welcome the MMA icon back to the cage.

White recently revealed he was going to meet with McGregor in the Middle East to finally confirm his long-anticipated comeback.

And The Notorious revealed he would make a fight announcement on New Year’s Day - although he appeared to go a day early.

The UFC are yet to announce the fight and McGregor has been known to make premature announcements.

And his last fight was also at lightweight - two below middleweight - while he has never fought above welterweight.

McGregor and Chandler were frontrunners to headline UFC 300 on April 13.

But, it looks as though they could instead target the annual International Fight Week.