Conor McGregor is gearing up for his return to the octagon against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, and he’s also looking to secure a new contract with the UFC. McGregor, who has been out of action for nearly three years, recently shared in a Duelbits live chat that he’s in negotiations for a contract extension.
His current deal has just two fights remaining, but McGregor has ambitious plans for 2024, aiming for three fights within the year.
McGregor’s return fight against Chandler is scheduled for June 29. He has outlined his plan to fight again on September 5 and then once more in December, provided he remains injury-free. This is a lofty goal, especially considering his last fight was in July 2021, where he suffered severe leg fractures in his bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
The last time McGregor fought three times in a single year was back in 2016. That year, he split two fights with Nate Diaz and then defeated Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205 to claim the lightweight championship. However, those fights were spaced out over March, August, and November, making his current goal of three fights in six months particularly ambitious.
There are some discrepancies in McGregor’s proposed dates. While he referred to September 5 as Mexican Independence Day, the actual date is September 16. UFC 306 is set for September 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, and this tight schedule would be the shortest turnaround in McGregor’s UFC career.
Currently, the UFC doesn’t have any events scheduled for September 5. The closest event is UFC 305 on August 18 in Perth, Australia, followed by UFC 306 in Las Vegas.
The anticipation for McGregor’s return has been building for over a year since the bout with Chandler was first announced. UFC President Dana White has noted that the event is already set to break records, with the gate surpassing $20 million, beating the previous record of $17.7 million set at UFC 205.
McGregor, who has lost three of his last four fights, all by stoppage, is looking to turn his fortunes around at UFC 303. His fans and the UFC alike are eagerly awaiting his return, hopeful that he can make a successful comeback and possibly fight three times in 2024.
