UFC CEO Dana White recently stated that Conor McGregor’s octagon return will not happen this year.  McGregor pushed back saying that he wants to fight in December.  

“Ah Dana, December is the date! Bring the calendar year home with a winning event! Come on now, what’s this? I am off to altitude next month to prepare,” McGregor wrote on X. “DECEMBER! Tell Dana and UFC WE WANT DECEMBER! WE DESERVE DECEMBER!”

McGregor was scheduled to face Chandler in the UFC 303 main event on June 29 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but was forced out of the bout due to a toe injury.  Chandler is no longer waiting to face the Irishman and is ready to accept ‘any fight’ if he and McGregor do not fight in December.  

“At some point, you’re just like, ‘hey man, you pulled out with a pinky toe injury.’  I would have fought through it,” Chandler told TMZ Sports.  “If we can fight in December, let’s do it.  I’m in, but the fact of the matter is I’ve stayed ready since I left training camp for that June 29th fight and I am staying ready to take a fight, any fight, if this fight doesn’t look like it’s happening in December.”      

McGregor has been out of action since breaking his leg in a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021. McGregor last tasted victory in January 2020, defeating Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone via technical knockout in just 40 seconds. 

Chandler last fought in November 2022, losing to Poirier via submission.  He filmed The Ultimate Fighter 31 last year and expected to face McGregor last fall.  Last fall turned into June and now June has turned into next year.  At this point, Chandler just wants a fight.  

“It’s time to fight.  It’s definitely time to fight,” Chandler said.

MMAWeekly.com | UFC and MMA News, Results, Rumors, and Videos