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@adminIrish MMA icon Conor McGregor has been a prominent figure in UFC history. However, his recent struggles inside the octagon combined with missing the USADA drug testing pool deadline cast some shadows over his upcoming bout against Michael Chandler. Despite this, McGregor, with betting odds of -150, is the favorite, while Chandler stands as the underdog at +130.
In the past three years, McGregor’s fight history has been a mix of wins and losses. His last two outings were against Dustin Poirier, both of which he lost; the first in January 2021 at UFC 257: Poirier vs. McGregor 2 (second round knockout) and the most recent in July 2021 at UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3, where he suffered a first-round TKO due to doctor’s stoppage.
Before the Poirier bouts, McGregor won against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246: McGregor vs. Cowboy in January 2020 with a first-round knockout. In October 2018, he lost by submission in the fourth round to Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229: Khabib vs. McGregor. Prior to that, in November 2016, McGregor achieved victory with a second-round knockout against Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205: Alvarez vs. McGregor.
Despite his recent losses, McGregor has affirmed he is actively training for the upcoming Chandler fight, suggesting his return to the UFC octagon could be this year.
Chandler also appears confident that his clash with McGregor will take place in 2023. In an interview on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel, he voiced his conviction that McGregor would not want to jeopardize his legacy by canceling their scheduled bout.
The UFC can grant exemptions in ‘exceptional circumstances’ or where the ‘strict application of the six-month rule would be manifestly unfair to an athlete’. This occurred when Brock Lesnar returned to the UFC in 2016 against Mark Hunt.
With McGregor currently favored in the betting markets, gamblers are leaning towards a successful comeback for the Irishman. Regardless of the final decision by the UFC, the potential McGregor-Chandler fight has created a buzz among UFC enthusiasts and bettors alike.
Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or a casual UFC fan, keep your eyes on TheFightDay for the latest updates on the McGregor-Chandler showdown and everything UFC.
