Conor McGregor plans on competing in a three-rounder for the first time in ten years when he makes his long-awaited UFC comeback.

‘Notorious’ has not fought in a three-round fight since defeating Dustin Poirier in their inaugural encounter at UFC 178 all the way back in September 2014.

McGregor hasn’t fought in a three-rounder since his first fight with Poirier in 2014Credit: Getty Images – Getty

However, due to a lengthy spell of inactivity, McGregor insists he would prefer to ease himself back into competition rather than jump head-first into a five-round fight.

“Rounds. Maybe I might say to them, ‘Look lads, I’m only going to do three rounds for this one’,” he told the MMA Hour.

“I want to just wet my beak. I can do three rounds really nicely now. Rather than pushing through to get to five.

“I feel as if I push right now to get to give full fitness rounds, I feel the first three rounds wouldn’t be as sharp as I could get them.

“I’d rather sharpen the blade of three and go in nice and sharp. Get the feel, get the fight.

“Chandler is going to come for it, he’s going to come at me. That’s his style.

“I think three is a lovely one. And then the five. I do think three and five. That’s how I feel. This is just my own thoughts, I’ve not said this to anyone yet. It’s a go now, so I’m thinking now.

“Okay, weight? Okay, rounds? It would be interesting to see what they [UFC] say about that, it could be first of the night. I don’t care. That’s where I am at with it.”

McGregor and Chandler are set to do battle in June

McGregor has been sidelined since breaking his leg against Poirier during their third fight at UFC 264 three years ago.

But now, he is ready to make his much-anticipated return to the Octagon.

The Irishman suggested June 29, 2024, as a potential fight date when he caught up with talkSPORT last week, which just so happens to be the same date that is pencilled in for UFC 303.

McGregor vs Chandler has been a long time in the making with the UFC starting their promotional campaign for the fight last year when both men squared off against each other as coaches on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter.

Chandler has publically called for the fight on several occasions since then including during a special guest appearance on WWE’s Monday Night Raw last month.

The fight was originally proposed to take place in December, however, McGregor’s decision not to enrol in USADA testing before the June deadline ruled out the fight for 2023.

It now appears that the summer of 2024 is the most realistic time frame for the fight to happen in.