Conor McGregor’s return may be hanging in the balance, but that hasn’t stopped fighters from scrambling to secure a spot on the UFC’s final PPV of the year! McGregor’s comeback hit a major snag when a broken pinky toe forced him out of UFC 303, leaving fans disappointed and his highly anticipated showdown with Michael Chandler in limbo.

But the plot thickens—UFC CEO Dana White has stirred the pot even more by claiming the Irish superstar won’t fight in 2024. Despite this uncertainty, a former UFC bantamweight champion isn’t sitting quietly on the sidelines. He’s making waves by demanding a spot on the December card, and he’s already got an opponent in his crosshairs!

Former champion throws his hat in the ring for December PPV after Conor McGregor upset

In a recent conversation with SportsNet, UFC boss Dana White affirmed that “As of right now, I believe that Conor will not fight this year.” Despite ‘The Notorious’ and his scheduled opponent, Michael Chandler both indicating that they’d be ready for December, the boss’ statement has left the fans wondering what’s next for the highly anticipated bout.

The end-of-the-year PPV, with McGregor’s inclusion, would surely have been a massive boost to the promotion. As such, fans have been anxiously waiting to see if the situation changes or not. But while the former ‘champ-champ’s return is still shrouded in mystery, Petr Yan has made it clear that he wants to return on the December PPV!

Yan, the former bantamweight champion, has been out of action since his bout against Song Yadong at UFC 299 in March this year. Yan won the fight via unanimous decision, but suffered a torn ACL and meniscus in the opening round of the fight. But in a recent post on X, ‘No Mercy’ revealed that, “I want to fight on the last PPV card of the year.”

UFC 310 will be the final PPV of the year for the promotion and will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada. So, who does Yan wish to fight? In a reply on X to the same question, Yan responded by stating, “Figueiredo”.

The no. 5 ranked bantamweight Deiveson Figueiredo does seem like a logical match-up for the no. 3-ranked Yan, who snapped a 3-fight losing streak against Yadong at UFC 299. But it remains to be seen if the UFC does oblige to his wishes. Meanwhile, Michael Chandler, who is interested in a December clash against Conor McGregor has also indicated that he might be ready to move on from his saga with the Irishman!

‘Iron’ is ready to leave McGregor in the past

Michael Chandler’s patience has been tested for far too long. The former Bellator lightweight champion has waited, watched, and wondered when he’ll finally face off against Conor McGregor. Yet, the fight still seems like a distant dream for Chandler, who hasn’t stepped into an Octagon since 2022.

In a recent conversation on ‘Beat The Heat’, Chandler affirmed that despite the setbacks, he is “not gonna ever play the victim”. Instead of taking the route of self-pity, ‘Iron’ confessed, “It’s more just with all due respect. I’m ready to put you behind me.”

However, Chandler did reveal that, “I’m ready to put you flat on your back in the middle of an Octagon, wherever it is, hopefully, Las Vegas, Nevada”. As the year’s end inches closer, the question looms large. Will UFC 310 deliver the blockbuster matchups fans crave, or will the wait continue? What about Petr Yan’s demands to be on the card? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!