Conor McGregor has a 'great dance partner' in his comeback opponent Michael Chandler, says Michael Bisping

Conor McGregor has a "great dance partner" in his UFC comeback opponent Michael Chandler, believes TNT Sports' Michael Bisping.

In the aftermath of the landmark UFC 300 in Las Vegas, which saw Alex Pereira defeat Jamahal Hill in the main event to retain his light-heavyweight crown, UFC supremo Dana White made the bombshell announcement.

McGregor will make his comeback against Chandler, a fight which had been widely rumoured to be pencilled in for UFC 300 until the Irish superstar's commitments to promote his new movie, Road House, emerged.

The pair will face off in the same Octagon in Las Vegas, but instead the date will be June 29, as the finale to International Fight Week 2024.

The last time McGregor competed was in July 2021, when a horrific broken leg caused his trilogy with Dustin Poirier to be stopped early.

That layoff was followed by controversies away from the sport, a stint coaching opposite Chandler on The Ultimate Fighter, and a failure to re-enrol in the UFC's anti-doping programme until last autumn.

Chandler also lost his latest bout against Poirier, spending the last 18 months on the sidelines while waiting for this mega-fight.

While McGregor's biggest victories came in the UFC - where he labelled himself 'Champ Champ' after becoming the first man in the promotion to hold titles in two weight classes at once - the key moments of Chandler's career were in Bellator, where he reigned as lightweight champion three times.

Reflecting on McGregor's return, former UFC middleweight king Bisping said: "We're all very excited. The sport of mixed martial arts, and the UFC, is a better place with Conor involved.

"The energy that he brings, the attention, the eyeballs, the numbers, the views, the PPV buys... you put it all together, it turns the sport on its head. That's part of the reason why this sport has blown up and is so big.

"How will he be after three years away? Will he be the same person? Does he still have it? Does he still have the fire? I think he's still got the fire, he still wants it. But is he the same fighter deep down? Because he's got older and he's got the silk sheets."

Fellow TNT Sports pundit Nick Peet was more sceptical over the 35-year-old's fitness.

"He's not the same fighter physically - it's why this is happening at 170lbs when both are 155lb guys," Peet said. "It's five rounds, which will be a real test of Conor's cardio."

But Bisping responded: "The man is still extremely dangerous. He's never been a cardio machine - you can't be a sprinter and a marathon runner at the same time. He's got incredible fast-twitch muscle fibres, knockout power, known for the left hand.

"Michael Chandler, who is involved in almost every Fight of the Year, is a great dance partner. Why? Because he's very hittable. He's going to come forward. He'll play the game, he'll stand there and trade. That is music to Conor's ears. That is music to all the fans' ears as well. That kind of fight gives McGregor a real shot."

Once the initial wave of excitement over McGregor v Chandler has passed, attention will turn to the long-term aspirations of the Irishman. Peet is among those wondering what is next - particularly if it involves Birmingham's UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards.

He concluded: "The most intriguing thing for me, if Conor's successful, where does he go? Is he going to stay at welterweight? Will he go back down to lightweight? Is there a potential Leon Edwards fight down the line? Britain v Ireland: that would be incredible."

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