Conor McGregor 'pushing hard' for UFC 300 matchup with Michael Chandler

Former UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor could finally fight Michael Chandler at UFC 300.

McGregor’s manager Audie Attar said the Irishman is “pushing hard” for the fight at the promotion’s landmark event in 2024. McGregor and Chandler faced off as coaches on the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter, but a fight date was never set.

Chandler also released a hype video, allegedly confirming the fight would happen in 2024.

“If it was up to him, he’d be fighting Saturday, so ultimately we’re just trying to make sure we’re doing everything right and following all the standard operating procedures to get him back in the octagon as soon as possible,” Attar said, via MMA Junkie. “UFC 300 would be amazing, and obviously we’re pushing as hard as we can to make that happen. Ultimately, it’s going to be an exciting 2024 for his return.”

All signs point toward McGregor’s return in 2024. He hasn’t fought since July of 2021 and UFC 300 takes place in Las Vegas on April 13.

“Look, I think that’s the likeliest opponent,” Attar said. “They just did The Ultimate Fighter together, and I think the fans want to see that fight, but there are other opponents as well. At the end of the day, the UFC is still keen on Michael Chandler and unless something changes there, I certainly think that’s who’s going to be.”

Since the lightweight title win in 2016, his second UFC belt, McGregor is 1-3 in the UFC over the course of seven years. He lost a title fight to Khabib Nurmagomedov, knocked out Donald Cerrone in a welterweight bout and lost two fights to Dustin Poirier in 2021.

“A lot of people are interested when it’s going to happen,” Chandler said of McGregor in July. “When’s Conor coming back? When’s our fight going to happen, now that we’re building it with The Ultimate Fighter (and) all that kind of stuff. So I understand. I understand people’s eagerness to get the answers. 

“Historically, the coaches of The Ultimate Fighter have never not fought. And I don’t think Conor would ever want to delve into his legacy being tarnished by him coming back and not (fighting).”

Chandler is 23-8 in his MMA career and 2-3 in the UFC after he came over from Bellator. He is the former Bellator Lightweight Champion and did fight for the UFC belt, but lost to Charles Oliveira in May of 2021.