Chael Sonnen believes UFC superstar Conor McGregor has only one way to beat Michael Chandler.

The Irishman announced in December that he will face ‘Iron Mike’ in his long-awaited return to competition.

McGregor has been inactive since suffering a broken tibia in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021 but has since returned to training and has been preparing for a return to the Octagon.

In a video posted on his social media, McGregor revealed that he will take on the former lightweight challenger at the UFC’s International Fight Week card on June 29.  However, Dana White is yet to officially confirm the fight.

The pair served as opposing coaches on the 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter last year, and fans have been anticipating a date for their showdown ever since.

With the two MMA icons looking set to go head-to-head this summer, Sonnen has already chipped in and given his thoughts on how McGregor can win on his dramatic return to the cage.

Conor McGregor only has one way to beat Michael Chandler – according to Chael Sonnen

The former UFC star believes the longer the fight goes on, the more it will favour Chandler

The 46-year-old believes that the knockout artist must stop Chandler in the opening round to win the fight.

The longer the fight goes on, the American believes that the odds will favour Chandler. Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Sonnen said: ‘Conor has one way to beat Michael Chandler, of which is not gonna matter in the first round.

‘Turns out Conor’s really good at knocking people out in the first round, but that is his only chance. If this sees the second round… you got totally different odds. If this sees the third round, we don’t even have a conversation, for sure Chandler wins. Chandler could lose all ten minutes to get to the third round, but if the third round begins, Chandler wins the fight.

‘It’s not too late because a bout agreement isn’t signed to make Conor and Chandler three rounds.

‘Now, you have a different conversation, you have a completely different line, you have a completely different book, you have a completely different analysis. Now Conor can win, now he can win a decision. He can bank eight minutes and lose seven and win a decision.’

After the news of McGregor’s return was announced, Ariel Helwani revealed the Irishman had been angling to return in the main event of the UFC 300 card in April before agreeing to face Chandler in June after discussions with the promotion.

Chandler had previously expressed concerns that McGregor would instead look to complete his trilogy with Nate Diaz, a bout he called an ‘easier fight’ for the 35-year-old.

Now, ‘Iron Mike’ seems to be confident that a fight between the pair will take place and is even willing to move all the way up to middleweight.

Chandler has not fought since his third-round submission defeat to Dustin Poirier in 2022

McGregor recently revealed details of his long-awaited UFC return in a post on social media

‘I don’t care if he wants to fight at middleweight, welterweight or light-heavyweight, whatever it might be. He doesn’t want to fight at 155lb because he wants everyone to believe he’s bigger than he is,’ he told ESPN.

‘In his mind, he can’t fight at 170lb because I called him out at 170lb, therefore I’m not doing as I’m told he is doing what I said so he had to say 185lb.’

Chandler, who has spent most of his career at lightweight, has not fought since his third-round submission defeat to Dustin Poirier back in 2022.