News confirmed! Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler is finally happening!
Days after The Notorious told reporters he would fight Iron Mike this summer, 37-year-old Chandler joined Babcock on the "TMZ Sports" TV show (airs weekdays on FS1) ... and we asked him if McGregor was being truthful, or just blowing smoke.
"I've got the official announcement. It's happening this summer," Chandler said, adding, "I can't tell you the actual date, but it's happening this summer!"
We followed up ... so it's official?!
"We have an agreement. We are fighting this summer."
Ears, meet music.
Of course, the Michael and Conor fight has been in the works forever ... going back to mid-2023 when the men coached opposite one another on "The Ultimate Fighter."
So, Conor the coach has been relatively active ... but not necessarily the fighter. That's because in addition to shooting the highly anticipated "Road House" remake (which dropped yesterday on Prime), McGregor was also healing up.
Conor McGregor was carted out of the arena after suffering a leg injury during #UFC264 pic.twitter.com/KDAXLgUPDz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 11, 2021
Remember, McGregor gruesomely broke his lower leg during his UFC 264 scrap with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. That was his last fight.
As for Chandler, he too last faced Poirier ... in November 2022.
Bottom line, both guys are ready to get back in the Octagon ... and although the date isn't publicly known, it's not that far off (check out the clip -- we also talk about which weight class the fight will be contested in.)
"It's been an interesting ride. It's been a fun ride. It's what I signed up for. But now we're getting darn close, man. We are getting really close. He's starting training. I'm starting training and we're going to collide this summer, so it's going to be a lot of fun."