Conor McGregor recently asserted that a handful of options are under consideration for his long-awaited return to the Octagon.
“The Notorious” has been out of action for over three years, ever since he endured a devastating leg fracture during his trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
Although McGregor has occasionally teased a comeback after serving as a coach on season 31 of The Ultimate Fighter against his rival Michael Chandler, he had even lined up a fight with “Iron” for UFC 303 this past June.
Unfortunately, just two weeks prior to the scheduled fight, the matchup was canceled after McGregor was forced to withdraw due to a leg injury. Since then, Chandler has redirected his ambitions and is now set to face Charles Oliveira in a rematch, which will serve as the co-main event of UFC 309 on November 16.
McGregor Affirms Interest In Chandler Fight While Exploring Options
During a recent interview with The Schmo, McGregor opened up about his potential return to the UFC. The former two-division champion expressed his desire to settle what started with Chandler upon his comeback but also mentioned that several other names are in the mix for a possible fight.
Although “The Notorious” refrained from naming any particular opponents, he indicated that a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz and a quadrilogy with Poirier still hold considerable appeal for him.
“We’re looking for the date. I’d like to square it away with Michael Chandler. You know, I’d like to get Chandler in. We’ve had our beef. It’s not settled. He has a match scheduled. I would like to fight before he’s recovered.
There’s a few names in the line at the minute. There’s a few names being discussed.”
– Conor McGregor
While McGregor has repeatedly conveyed his enthusiasm for a return by the end of the year, UFC CEO Dana White has firmly stated that the Irishman won’t be stepping back into the Octagon until early 2025.
“The Notorious” last tasted victory in January 2020 when he faced Donald Cerrone. With a notably sparse fighting schedule, McGregor has recorded a disappointing 3-4 in his last seven outings since 2016.
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