It’s been a while since UFC fans have heard from Conor McGregor (22-6). Since he lost at UFC 229 to Khabib Nurmagomedov, he’s steered away from the fighting world. That includes pursuing acting gigs and starting his own brand of whiskey.
But it seems the public will get another McGregor fight, with Dana White announcing on Saturday the return of “Notorious” at UFC 303. His opponent? Michael Chandler (23-8), where they’ll fight at 170 lbs. The fight will go down on June 29 in Las Vegas, setting the stage for one of the biggest comebacks in UFC history.
But there are some concerns that the Irish megastar might not be ready for the ring. Is McGregor ready to return to the UFC? Can “Notorious” handle the workload of fighting in the promotion?
The Pros and Cons of Conor McGregor Returning
The biggest pro of McGregor’s return is the draw. With the Irish fighter coming back, he brings his boisterous, egotistical personality with him. That means plenty of trash-talking, power-walking, and cockiness.
That also means millions of dollars pouring in. Conor McGregor is a massive draw, as proven by UFC 229’s large numbers. With a total gate of $17.2 million and a buy rate of 2.4 million, “Notorious” made UFC money. More money makes Dana White a happy guy.
However, one massive flaw with this is whether he’s ready or not. In his last fight in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier, McGregor broke his left leg. The wear and tear on his body might be too much, leaving him unable to fight another bout.
The Verdict
Any time a promotion has its most famous fighter come back, it means great things for the product. Increased buy rates, a higher gate, and more attention mean the UFC will greatly benefit from Conor McGregor’s return.
However, it might hurt McGregor himself to come back and fight one more bout. “Notorious” isn’t getting any younger, with his best days behind him. That’s especially true with the Irish fighter losing three of his last four fights, not fighting in three years.
Still, fans will be glued to their sets, watching greatness return. Whether McGregor delivers another memorable performance will remain to be seen. However, fans will relish the moment that one of the most famous fighters graced the octagon.
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Jacob Walters is a boxing/MMA writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @IceColdWJacob
