Special to Sports News Highlights

(SNH) — Later this month, after nearly three years since his last fight, Conor McGregor will be stepping back into the UFC Octagon.

His fight with Michael Chandler will headline UFC 303 on June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The welterweight contest will take place as part of International Fight Week.

McGregor is coming off two straight losses and three losses in his past four fights. His most recent fight, a July 2021 lightweight contest vs. Dustin Poirier, ended in a doctor’s stoppage in Round 1 after McGregor broke his tibia and was unable to continue.

There was a lot of chatter in the lead-up to UFC 300 in April about why McGregor was not on that card. Many felt his return would’ve been the perfect main event for the biggest UFC show of all time, and that a fight such as Alex Periera vs. Jamahal Hill wasn’t big enough for that slot.

Many were also wondering in the nearly three years McGregor has been away if he would ever return to the sport at all.

The biggest question surrounding this fight will be McGregor’s point to prove, after such a long layoff, after the losses he’s taken in recent years, is “The Notorious” still an elite competitor?

Chandler is coming off an extended hiatus as well. He hasn’t fought in a year and a half, and like McGregor, is also coming off two straight losses and three losses in his past four fights as well as coming off a loss to Poirier.

Considering his history with both fighters, Poirier recently made a prediction about how the fight would go on ESPN’s First Take:

“I think if Conor is anywhere similar to where he was before the injury, with his timing, with his accuracy, the stylistic matchup with Michel Chandler – I think [Conor] clips [Chandler].” Poirier said. “Chandler covers too much distance not properly, not the best footwork. Lunging in with shots, and that’s how you get countered. If Conor’s the matador and has the same timing and pop he had before the injury, Conor’s gonna stop this guy.”

McGregor is the biggest PPV draw in MMA history, having headlined the five highest-selling UFC PPVs. And history has already been made for UFC 303.

The organization is poised to do its first live gate in excess of $20 million, surpassing the current all-time UFC live gate record of $17.7 million at UFC 205 in November 2016 at Madison Square Garden. That event was headlined by McGregor as well, where he captured the lightweight belt from Eddie Alvarez by second-round knockout.

With McGregor set for his return following a nearly three-year layoff, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed the numbers were already record-breaking.  “It’s already way over $20 million,” White told reporters on May 11 at the UFC on ESPN post-fight press conference in St. Louis.

McGregor's fellow Irishman, Ian Garry, is also on the UFC 303 card taking on Michael “Venom” Page. Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jamahal Hill will face Carlos Ulberg as well.

There was a McGregor vs. Chandler press conference scheduled for Monday in Dublin, Ireland at the 3Arena on Monday. Tickets were sold out in a matter of minutes. However, the presser was postponed.

As we head into June, the hype is coming. Can McGregor, who’s about to turn 36 years old and coming off a brutal injury and a long layoff, prove he can still hang at an elite level? The world will be watching on June 29 to see if McGregor can shake up the MMA world once again. 

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