The wait is almost over for UFC fans and Conor McGregor supporters alike – the ‘Notorious’ is close to making his long awaited return to the octagon. When is Conor McGregor’s next fight? Let’s find out…
We haven’t seen the former featherweight and lightweight champion in a fighting context in over a year and a half, as he dealt with a serious injury sustained in his previous fight.
But in true dramatic McGregor style, the Irishman has been teasing the release of his own Netflix docu-series that will undoubtedly build hype for his next bout. UFC boss Dana White confirmed it would happen in 2023; some time later this year.
‘McGregor Forever’ – the title of the docu-series – follows the UFC fighter’s recovery from breaking his tibia and fibula in July 2021 during his fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
In the trailer, the ‘Notorious’ speaks about fears of his career being ripped away as he sat in the octagon being looked after by the medical staff.
With McGregor overcoming the nasty leg injury in July 2021, back training and a TV show covering the entire process, the UFC community is begging for the once king of the sport to step back in and headline a fight card.
So here’s everything we know so far about a possible fight in the not so distant future for Conor McGregor.
Conor McGregor’s next fight details
Who’s McGregor’s next opponent?
McGregor will be welcomed back into the octagon with a bout against multi-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler (23-8).
The pair have recently been opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter season 31 which came out in May, just before the ‘McGregor Forever’ docu-series.
There’s been evident mutual respect between the two but things have taken a turn as they often do in the build up to Conor McGregor’s fights. However, this time it was Chandler starting the war of words, going to Twitter to voice what he believes he’ll do to the Irishman in the octagon.
“These big fight nights always make me want to fight so bad,” Chandler tweeted.
“Can’t wait to go out there and beat (Conor McGregor) within an inch of his career.”
When and where is Conor McGregor’s next fight?
No official date or venue has been released at this point (April, 2023) but rumours are speculating September this year at the earliest.
Since McGregor last fought, he’s bulked up quite a bit which has caused USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) to request that he undergo six months of drug testing before he steps into the octagon. This still leaves plenty of time for the fight to go ahead in 2023.
It would be a safe bet to predict that the McGregor-Chandler fight would be held in Las Vegas, considering seven of McGregor’s last nine pay-per-views were there but it would be entertaining to see it go somewhere else in world.
Conor McGregor’s last fight
It’s been over 20 months since McGregor last fought in the UFC against American Dustin Poirier which ended in a TKO after the ‘Notorious’ broke his leg and the fight was stopped.
It was the third iteration in the series of fights between Poirier and McGrgeor and the second in 2021 alone.
McGregor wasn’t too humble in defeat though, famously sitting up against the cage being interviewed by Joe Rogan having shots at anyone that took his attention including Poirier’s partner.
The broken tibia and fibula that the Irishman suffered in the bout was so worrying for him that in the trailer for his upcoming Netflix docu-series ‘McGregor Forever’, he admits that he thought his career could be gone.
Conor McGregor’s UFC record
22 wins, 6 losses
He may not have the best record ever seen in the UFC but there’s no doubt that McGregor will be remembered as fondly as any others that have stepped into the octagon.
The Irishman currently holds a 22-6 record; impressive, but hurt by his latest form, losing four of his past seven fights. That’s dragged his winning percentage down from 90% to 79%.
