Michael Chandler hopes a belt will be on the line when he fights Conor McGregor.

This past weekend, it was finally confirmed that McGregor will return to MMA against Chandler at UFC 303 in Las Vegas on June 29.

McGregor vs Chandler finally has an official dateCredit: Getty

Dana White also announced that the fight will take place at welterweight and will be a non-title bout, despite rumours McGregor vs Chandler would crown an inaugural champion in a new 165lb division.

Until recently, ‘Iron’ thought that a title shot was a real possibility.

“That was one of the rumours as well, the 165 belt, obviously that has not happened,” Chandler said during an interview with TheMacLife.

“Even me in this position, man, I would not be surprised if that bout agreement comes over and it says for the 165lb title. You never know because the UFC has to keep a lot of things secret. Even to us, right?

“You saw Conor broke the announcement again before the UFC did it. I’m sure the UFC said, ‘Hey, don’t do it because we’re gonna do it at the post-fight press conference.’ In typical Conor fashion.

“They want to hold a lot of the information. We knew the date. I knew what the weight class was most likely going to be, and then they sent it over.

“It should be for a belt, but we’ll see if we can’t make one up.”

McGregor and Chandler have spent most of their careers campaigning at lightweight, but there was talk about them clashing at middleweight.

McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his leg at UFC 264 in July 2021Credit: Getty

Chandler has sat out since November 2022 waiting for McGregor to returnCredit: Getty

Ultimately, they have agreed to meet in the middle for a 170lb bout.

Chandler added: “I think 170 is perfect,155 is not easy to make.

“So, fighting at 170 is gonna be kind of a perfect camp, honestly. I weigh about 190. Getting down to 170 is kind of gonna be easy compared to 155.

“I think I’ll compete phenomenally there. I’m still gonna do the exact same camp. I’m still gonna get my weight similar to where I would be at 155, I just won’t dehydrate myself at the end.

“I wanna stay big, I wanna stay strong, wanna stay explosive. So, I think 170 is gonna be perfect.”