Conor McGregor plans next three fights, starting with Michael Chandler at UFC 296 in December

Did “The Notorious” just confirm his elusive return?

Conor McGregor was in attendance for a boxing match between Anthony Joshua vs. Robert Helenius yesterday (Sat., Aug. 12, 2023) inside O2 Arena in London, England. And he caught up with the outlet talkSPORT during the fight to lay out his next three fights.

“[Michael] Chandler next, December,” McGregor said. “And then [Justin] Gaethje ‘BMF’ [title fight]. And then we’ll do Nate [Diaz] trilogy.”

McGregor has been hot-and-cold about a matchup with Michael Chandler ever since the debut episode of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 31. It started very hot, obviously because the show was on everyone’s mind; however, as the weeks flew by, the Irish superstar changed his mind (several times) and, most recently, wanted to fight the new “BMF.”

Earlier this week, UFC President, Dana White, assured fight fans that McGregor was indeed fighting Chandler next.

McGregor confirmed that in the same interview.

“December. Chandler [is next],” McGregor said. “I have to. I just got to [smack] him. I’ll grab by the chest and [smack] him.”

McGregor has yet to fight since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in 2021 and has not entered the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) pool ... so we will see if he is actually telling the truth.

We have our doubts.

For more TUF 31-related (and Conor McGregor) news and notes click here.