It appears preparation is in full swing and confidence is high in Conor McGregor’s camp! The Irish MMA icon is set to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29. While the match-up was originally scheduled to take place after the TUF 31 season last year, it was delayed due to multiple reasons, including McGregor’s schedule and issues with athlete testing.

However, UFC CEO Dana White recently confirmed that the fight is now on and will mark The Notorious’s return to fighting for the first time in almost 3 years since he broke his leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021. The announcement came at the post-fight press conference at UFC 300 and sent shockwaves through the MMA world, and with the latest update on social media, McGregor appears to have found his groove to make his comeback a fight to remember!

Conor McGregor reveals he is training in style for Michael Chandler bout

Conor McGregor has been out of action since he suffered a devastating leg fracture at UFC 264 against ‘The Diamond’. Although he has since recovered, his comeback fight against Michael Chandler was the cause of much speculation and concern in the MMA community.

Originally, it was reported that the delay in scheduling the fight was due to McGregor’s absence from the mandatory testing period under USADA rules in the UFC. However, with the UFC changing testing partners this year, other issues were brought to light for the delay, including the Irishman’s promotional duties for his role in ‘Road House’.

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But with the fight now receiving a date and weight-class of 170 lbs, it appears that McGregor is back to his old-ways as he shared an interesting post on social media that featured him training and glimpses of his luxurious lifestyle. He captioned the post, “Mustard? I don’t care if it’s Muhammad I’m Hard Bruce Lee. Ya can’t change fighters”

It remains to be seen how the fight will play out once the two men step into the Octagon against each other, but with Chandler’s last fight against Dustin Poirier in 2022 ending in a submission loss, both will be looking to get back into the win column at UFC 303! However, many experts have raised concerns about the dangers for McGregor as he returns from a long-layoff and a career altering injury.

According to Chris Weidman, who had suffered the same fate as ‘The Notorious’, “…there is a psychological effect when you break your leg in half like that. So you need to really get that habit back strong and focus on that.”  Nevertheless, as fight night approaches, fans eagerly await the showdown between McGregor and Chandler, and a former opponent of ‘The Notorious’ has also made his thoughts known on the upcoming clash!

McGregor receives support from an old rival for UFC 303

Former UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo expressed his desire to see Conor McGregor return to his vintage form when he faces Michael Chandler at UFC 303. Aldo, whose title reign was ended by McGregor in a 13-second knockout at UFC 194 in 2015, harbors no ill will towards his former rival and wishes him success in his upcoming bout.

In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, he stated through an interpreter, “I always root for the guys who I fought and the guys who have beaten me because, you know, that just proves that I lost to the best and I lost to champions. So I hope that he can go in there and be the Conor of old…”

He further explained that he hopes McGregor can be aggressive in his fighting style and seek a decisive finish rather than relying on judges’ decisions. And so, Aldo’s statements reveal the mutual respect that is developed among fighters who have gone to war inside the Octagon together, a unique aspect of the world of mixed martial arts.

Do you think Conor McGregor will be back in his prime form against Michael Chandler at UFC 303? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below!