The return of Conor McGregor appears to be coming soon — and against Michael Chandler — after the Irish MMA superstar tweeted a countdown to UFC 296 on December 16.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) August 27, 2023
UFC 296 is slated for T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and while all eyes are on the Irishman, Conor McGregor fight odds have these two fighters at -110 apiece — read more in our full UFC odds breakdown below.
McGregor vs Chandler odds
Odds as of August 28, 2023.
This fight opened as a pick'em which isn't surprising when you consider that both fighters have lost three of their last four bouts and that McGregor hasn't entered the octagon since he broke his leg in July 2021.
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McGregor vs Chandler tale of the tape
| Conor McGregor | Michael Chandler | |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | Age | 37 |
| 5-foot-9 | Height | 5-foot-8 |
| 155 lbs | Weight | 155 lbs |
| 74 inches | Reach | 71 inches |
| 22-6-0 | Record | 23-8-0 |
McGregor was, at one time, a two-division champ and the most entertaining MMA fighter on the planet. However, interests outside the octagon and recent injuries have sidelined his career.
Notorious has just one win over the last six years, when he knocked out the corpse of Donald Cerrone in 2020. Since then, he has dropped back-to-back fights against Dustin Poirier, getting finished by punches in 2021 before breaking his tibia in the grudge match against Poirier later that year.
If McGregor does fight against Chandler, it won't be until at least the fall since he needs to re-enter the USADA testing pool for six months before competing again. Recent pics on social media have shown a bulked-up McGregor making it possible that this clash will take place at welterweight where he split a pair of fights with Nate Diaz and starched Cerrone.
For God and Country ?????????????? pic.twitter.com/SlEc74Ky8D
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) February 10, 2023
That size shouldn't bother Chandler, who has always walked around in the 185-190 pound range but is a master at cutting weight. Chandler was a three-time lightweight champ at Bellator and while he's 2-3 in the UFC, he always puts on a show.
He starched Dan Hooker in the first round in his promotional debut and while he was finished by Charles Oliveira when they fought for the vacant belt in 2021, he managed to wobble "Do Bronx" in the opening round.
He followed up on that with a back-and-forth battle against Justin Gaethje and then sent Tony Ferguson to the Shadow Realm with one of the nastiest front kicks in history. In his most recent bout last November, he lost by submission to Poirier but it was a highly competitive bout that earned him a Fight of the Night bonus.
If Chandler uses his formidable wrestling, he could have the edge against McGregor. However, his tendency to brawl could get him in trouble if Notorious can rekindle the explosive striking that made him the biggest draw in the sport.
