Anticipated to now meet light-weight contender, Michael Chandler on the welterweight restrict of 170lbs, former duel-weight UFC champion, Conor McGregor has now drifted into the function of betting favourite forward of his return to the Octagon later this 12 months.
McGregor, a former undisputed light-weight and featherweight champion beneath the banner of the UFC, is slated to make his first Octagon stroll in over two years later this annum in a struggle in opposition to Chandler, making an attempt to snap a two-fight dropping run.
Tasked with rebounding from consecutive defeats for the primary time in his skilled blended martial arts profession, McGregor first dropped a second spherical KO defeat to Dustin Poirier again in January 2021, earlier than fracturing his left tibia and fibula in a trilogy rubber match between the 2 in July of that 12 months.
Sidelined within the time since, McGregor has since returned to blended martial arts – serving as a coach on The Final Fighter 31 in opposition to Chandler, with filming for the fact tv present starting final month forward of a Could premiere.
With out a victory on the light-weight restrict since a November 2016 knockout win over Eddie Alvarez – the place the Dubliner was nearly using Ark hacks en path to a dominant first spherical light-weight title win, McGregor is anticipated to return to the welterweight restrict for his subsequent struggle.
On the time of publication, and certain based mostly on the expectation of a welterweight stroll for the Dubliner, McGregor presently sits as excessive as a -130 betting favourite to defeat Chandler – who’s sat as a +110 betting underdog.
Struggling his most up-to-date skilled loss in opposition to common-foe, Poirier again in November of final 12 months, Chandler will try and defend his keep within the light-weight top-5 in opposition to McGregor – and land arguably probably the most high-profile win of his storied, gold laden profession to this point.
That includes on the Madison Sq. Backyard-hosted UFC 281 occasion again in November, Chandler began nicely in opposition to Lafayette fan-favorite, Poirier at The Mecca, nevertheless, suffered a 3rd spherical rear-naked choke submission loss, halting his plans in the meanwhile, not less than, on a second light-weight title pursuit.
Touchdown within the Octagon again in 2020 off the again of a whopping three prior Bellator MMA light-weight title successes, Chandler brust onto the UFC scene with a surprising first spherical knockout win over Dan Hooker.
Chandler would then struggle Brazilian phenom, Charles Oliveira for the vacant light-weight crown in Texas – nearly crowning himself because the division kingpin previous to struggling a second spherical TKO loss within the early goings following a rallying efficiency.
In between his submission loss to Poirier a call defeat to former interim champion, Justin Gaethje – Chandler landed the consensus 2021 Knockout of the 12 months – ending Tony Ferguson with a jaw-dropping entrance KO.
Himself and not using a victory since 2020, McGregor stopped former light-weight title challenger, the now-retired Donald Cerrone with a excessive kick and subsequent strikes TKO victory inside simply 40-seconds. That bout additionally came about on the welterweight restrict of 170lbs.
