Will UFC Create New Belt For Conor McGregor Return At UFC 303?

Could Conor McGregor be fighting for a title in a third weight divisions at UFC 303?

Michael Chandler believes so.

Chandler will welcome McGregor back to the Octagon on June 29 in Las Vegas. The event is expected to be part of International Fight Week.

A former featherweight and lightweight champion, McGregor has not completed since 2021. He has not won a fight since 2020.

But there are reports of a potential addition of a new weight class and title. So, putting McGregor in the title fight makes sense, right?

“That was one of the rumors as well, the 165 belt,” Chandler told TheMacLife (thanks to MMAMania.com for the quotes). “Obviously, that has not happened. Even me in this position, I would not be surprised. You never know because the UFC has to keep a lot of things secret.

“Even to us, right? I mean, you saw Conor broke the announcement again before the UFC did. I’m sure the UFC said, ‘Hey, don’t do it.'”

Chandler is a former Bellator lightweight champion who challenged for the UFC lightweight belt in 2021. He is just 1-3 over his last four.

Conor McGregor, Michael Chandler Have The Experience

Both McGregor and Chandler have fought at welterweight. McGregor did so in 2020 with Chandler doing so in his debut in 2009.

They are two well-known fighters and athletes. They were coaches on The Ultimate Fighter recently, as well.

For Chandler, if the bout is at 170 – as reported – or 165, nothing changes.

“I’m still gonna do the exact same camp,” he said. “I’m still gonna get my weight similar to where I would be at 155. I wanna stay big, I wanna stay strong, stay explosive.

“I think 170 is gonna be perfect.”