Conor McGregor hasn’t fought in five years but he’s been teasing his comeback for months with hopes that he’ll finally compete in the UFC again in 2026.
As negotiations continue for his next fight, McGregor hasn’t named any names offered to him yet but the UFC but the matchup that seemed most likely isn’t happening. When he was originally expected to return in 2024 after recovering from a gruesome broken leg in his trilogy against Dustin Poirier, McGregor was scheduled to face Michael Chandler following a stint coaching against each other on The Ultimate Fighter.
A broken toe knocked McGregor out of that fight but he and Chandler continued pushing for that matchup until UFC CEO Dana White eventually put the nail in the coffin and said he was no longer considering that a viable fight for the Irish superstar in his return. But Poirier — who fought and defeated both men — believes the UFC had it right the first time picking Chandler as the ideal opponent to welcome McGregor back after such a long layoff.
“I thought the Chandler fight was a layup for him,” Poirier said on Joe Rogan’s podcast. “A great matchup for him. [Chandler is] up there, 38 or 39 [years old]. But it’s just a layup for Conor.
“Chandler’s hittable, covers distance not that technically. Huge movements. You jump in, you get carried out. Conor’s a sniper. I just think that’s a great matchup for him.”
Of course, Chandler has proven himself as one of the most durable and explosive fighters in the UFC ever since he signed with the promotion following a long career spent competing in Bellator.
While Poirier obviously likes McGregor’s chance to win that fight, he knows there’s always a benefit for whoever lands that particular matchup because he’s done it three times in the past himself.
“You get paid,” Poirier said. “And he sat out for two years waiting on Conor.”
That last part is probably the toughest part for Chandler after he was promised the fight against McGregor but then it just never happened.
Now Chandler is scheduled to face dangerous Brazilian lightweight Mauricio Ruffy at the upcoming UFC White House card on June 14 while McGregor is still awaiting word on his comeback fight.
First things first, however, McGregor has to strike a deal with the UFC under new terms after the organization did away with pay-per-view, which was a huge part of the paycheck that “The Notorious” earned during his career.
Assuming the two sides eventually come to an agreement, McGregor is plotting to fight in 2026 but who he faces in his comeback remains to be seen.
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