UFC London is finally in the books and safe to say, it delivered as everyone expected it to. Whilst it was a great showing from the fighters and the London faithful, it left many wondering about where else the UFC will go next. As such, the post-fight press conference brought us an interesting response to the question.
For the most part, UFC’s second outing in London this year saw some stellar moments. Notable performances include Paul Craig making a bright start to his middleweight run and Tom Aspinall marking his return with a dominant first-round finish. Despite a few disappointing performances and controversial decisions, all in all, the event was an enjoyable one.
Thus, UFC’s Executive VP of Content and International David Shaw, was asked about a potential return to Ireland as well. “The short answer is yes. It was pointed out earlier, that next July will mark 10 years since the Conor fight”. Further, Shaw adds, “Top of the list for sure, we wanna get back at some point, just not sure when.” Immediately, the statement caught the attention of many, and became a topic of discussion for the fans.
What are the fans saying about the UFC’s return to Ireland?
Naturally, fans will be hyped about a potential return to Ireland. The first thing that pops up when fans cast their mind back to 2014 to Conor McGregor’s first-ever headline at a UFC Fight Night event. On the night, Conor took on Diego Brandao in Dublin and secured a finish in the very first round as well. As such a decade-later return in July 2024, would no doubt blow the roof of the place.
As such, let’s take a look at what the fans have to say about it.
🚨| UFC Executive VP of Content and International David Shaw says that next July will mark 10 years since Conor’s fight in Dublin and as a result a return to Dublin is now top of the UFC’s list for an event next year.
IRISH FANS… IT’S HAPPENING! 🇮🇪 #UFCLondon #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/GGbHAd1LxQ
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) July 22, 2023
they have to do conor’s fight there, they’ve failed to capitalize on some many champions/stars from untapped markets i.e africa when they had 3 champions, mexico when they had 3 champions etc
— KJ | #ANDNEW 91 DAYS (@BLKBoxingMMA) July 22, 2023
@Griffinkemp51 looks like maybe….just maybe….they want Conor to hold out until they get the GREEN light for a return home 🤷🏽♂️🇮🇪
— Kalani Lua (@klua11) July 23, 2023
you guys dont even know if he’s actually fighting and now is expecting a dublin return? wtf
— adouken (@vitorptko) July 23, 2023
Whilst some fans believe that a return to Irish soil would be a great idea and a chance for some solid matchups, some are skeptical about it. For the most part, a big complaint from fans seems to be that the UFC might choose to further delay Conor’s return to the Octagon. On the other hand, other’s believe that the UFC doesn’t have enough fighters from Ireland to make an interesting enough card.
What does UFC returning to Ireland mean for the McGregor-Chandler situation?
As per recent reports, Conor has seemingly missed the deadline for stepping into USADA’s testing pool. Thus, it is highly unlikely that he will be fighting anytime this year. However, should he enter the pool now, there is a chance for him to make his return early next year. Despite Dana White’s statements, they will eventually have to comply with USADA’s rules.
As such, the UFC could well make its return to Ireland with McGregor taking on Chandler early next year. However, in that case, the event would likely be before the 10-year anniversary mark. Similarly, the UFC could choose to have the Ireland card focus on Ian Garry in a fight night event as well. Thus, with options aplenty, it will be interesting to see what the UFC decides to work with.
At the same time, TUF 31 will be concluding next month, revealing the date of Conor and Michael Chandler’s showdown. Although the season has been a hit-and-miss, especially from a competitive standpoint, people are still keen to know the final outcome and with it, the official announcement of the fight.