Conor McGregor has been in the news lately, owing to his impending return to the Octagon next month. However, with his fight at UFC 303 only a few weeks away, Conor’s latest activities suggest that he has been dabbling in his old party lifestyle once again.
For those unaware, Conor McGregor was finally announced to be returning to action at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024, International Fight Week. Notably, he will be facing the man who had been announced as his opponent quite some time ago, UFC lightweight Michael Chandler.
MYSTIC MAC IS BACK 🔮🇮🇪@TheNotoriousMMA takes on @MikeChandlerMMA at 170lbs! #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/kt3a12qM6x
— UFC (@ufc) April 14, 2024
After years of delay and deliberation, Conor initially announced the date himself, before being shot down by UFC boss Dana White. However, White would then go back on his word and declare the same date himself, in the UFC 300 post-fight conference. Since then there has been a lot of talk regarding the fight and how the two athletes are getting on with their preparations.
Conor McGregor spotted partying just weeks before UFC 303
Recently, Conor McGregor appeared on a live stream on KICK with Duelbits, which went viral for numerous reasons. Not only did he aim for nearly half the UFC men’s roster, but he also shared a little bit of how he has been preparing for the upcoming fight. Most notably, Conor claimed that he was ‘off the drink’ for 10 weeks before the fight, showing great self-control to keep himself from sipping his Forged Irish Stout.
As such, the fans assumed that the Irishman had finally learned from his past mistakes and contrary to public opinion was taking the fight against Michael Chandler seriously. That said, most media outlets have since reported on Conor McGregor’s recent night out at the Black Forge Inn in Dublin, Ireland. With a gig by American DJ Mark ‘MK Kinchen and Irish group Belters Only, the hotspot was lit up for a proper bender.
Conor McGregor was on that Ryan Garcia training regimen this weekend 😭 pic.twitter.com/QASY2TKYFB
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) May 26, 2024
After that, Conor McGregor posted a video, which he quickly took down, showing himself and his fiancee Dee Devlin enjoying themselves among fans and celebrities. Per the fighter, he was out at quarter past two in the night, not resembling anything of someone supposedly preparing for a fight. Seeing that it has become a common trend with Ryan Garcia as well recently, some suggest that Conor is once again up to no good.
Michael Chandler has been quiet and on task ahead of UFC 303
For the most part, Michael Chandler has been pushing for the fight for quite some time now. Whilst many may have forgotten, Chandler made his last appearance in a submission loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, all the way back in 2022. Thus, it has been but a brutal layoff for Chandler, and he has been tempted and teased by McGregor every step of the way.
At one point things got so desperate that Chandler needed to make his way over to the WWE to publicly call out McGregor once again. That said, since the announcement of the fight, Chandler has mostly been radio silent putting in the work in the gym with his team and his coach Henri Hooft over at Kill Cliff FC. Seeing that the fight has now been announced, all doubts of Conor McGregor potentially leading him on to fight someone else have been dispelled.
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Thus, Michael Chandler has been very clear with his plan and prediction for the fight as well. Seeing that he has had to put his career on hold for this one, he will want to make every second inside the Octagon count. Considering the vast difference between his and Conor McGregor’s training regiment, it would seem as though Chandler is better poised to be the one to emerge victorious on June 29.