MMA megastar Conor McGregor has been seen partying with fiancee Dee Devlin at his Forge Inn pub in Dublin – less than five weeks before the former champion fights Michael Chandler at UFC 303.
McGregor was filmed and pictured arriving at the nightclub-style event, where he posed with DJs Marc Kinchen and Belters Only and danced with Devlin.
The 35-year-old has imposed an alcohol ban in the build-up to the fight and was not seen drinking, although MMA Junkie reported that he made light of being up at “quarter past two in the morning”.
Read our other sports stories:
KKR IPL 2024 win ‘means everything’
French Open schedule
Irving on Mavericks v Timberwolves
Two-weight titlist McGregor will have been out of the Octagon for almost three years when he faces Chandler in Las Vegas on June 29, returning after successive defeats to Dustin Poirier in 2021, breaking a leg in the second of those losses.
The most marketable and best-known fighter in MMA has said he will also fight in September and December.
Chandler is two years McGregor’s senior and has a mixed record since joining the UFC, losing three of his five bouts.
View this post on Instagram
McGregor v Chandler records
The fighter known as ‘Iron’ knocked out Dan Hooker on his promotion debut in 2021 but was stopped by Charles Oliveira when he challenged for the lightweight crown.
He then lost a thriller by decision against Justin Gaethje and knocked out Tony Ferguson in impressive style at UFC 274.
The American has not fought since suffering a submission loss to Poirier at UFC 281 in November 2022.
View this post on Instagram
McGregor and Chandler have been on a collision course because of their positions as rival coaches on the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter reality TV series.
After his fighters fell 6-0 behind in bouts against Chandler’s team, McGregor hurled insults at Chandler in an altercation which became physical before White stepped in.