Conor McGregor ‘confident’ about his UFC return, but no timetable

Conor McGregor expressed confidence on Saturday that he will eventually face Michael Chandler in the Octagon, but gave no indication as to when.

The Irish superstar was forced to withdraw from his welterweight bout against Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29 in Las Vegas due to an unspecified injury. On Saturday, McGregor (22-6) confirmed he was injured earlier this month, but added that he was “confident” of returning.

“It is very hard to be ruled out of my planned comeback fight,” McGregor wrote on Instagram. “I have been thinking about [scheduled news conference June 3] that required more time to heal than I had available. The decision to postpone the fight was not an easy one, but was made in consultation with my doctors, the UFC and my team.

“My fans and my opponent deserve me to give my best for this fight and we will do it! Thank you for the supportive messages, I am in good spirits and confident that I will come back!”

UFC general manager Dana White, who announced McGregor's retirement on Thursday, did not give a new timeframe for the fight. Chandler (23-8) has not fought since November 2021, in part because he was waiting to fight McGregor.

This is the first time McGregor has pulled out of a fight for any reason. The former two-weight UFC champion turns 36 in July. He hasn't fought since breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021.