CONOR MCGREGOR has finally admitted he WON’T be making his long-awaited UFC return this year.
The Notorious was due to make his cage comeback against Michael Chandler – who has since moved on from their proposed clash – in June before he suffered a broken left pinky toe.
GETTYConor McGregor’s future is in limbo following the official axing of his clash with Michael Chandler[/caption]
UFC supremo Dana White recently claimed the Irishman won’t return to the cage this yearSPORTSFILE
The Notorious is now resigned to the fact his cage comeback won’t take place this yearGETTY
In an exclusive interview with SunSport, McGregor revealed he was eyeing a December return to the octagon.
UFC bigwig Dana White, however, has publicly poured cold water on an end-of-year return for the promotion’s poster boy, who is now resigned to a 2025 return.
When asked about his return date this past weekend, the Irishman told DAZN: “It will be 2025. “We will see.
“My opponent that I had scheduled… it is what it is. I take it on board and rock on.
“My job is to go to the gym and be in shape, whenever it is and wherever it is. I will be 100 per cent ready.”
McGregor, 36, has two fights left on the lucrative contract he inked with MMA‘s top promotion in the build-up to his 2018 grudge match with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Negotiations over a new deal were held before the cancellation of his clash with Chandler, although the Dubliner has suggested they have been put on ice.
He recently told SunSport: “You know, the fight never happened.
“So it’s just about getting the fight on.”
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Inside McGregor’s Notorious lifestyle
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor’s rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
Former two-division McGregor is champing at the bit to get back inside the cage.
But he’s seemingly now itching to see out his contract with the MMA leader and become a free agent.
He said: “I must get two fights in 2025. It’s the promised land.”
McGregor is currently without an opponent following Chandler’s decision to rematch former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira in November.
When pressed on who will welcome him back to the octagon, he said: “Who knows? It does not matter.
“Whoever, let’s see. I’d like it to be Chandler. I wish him well and see where it goes.”
McGregor hasn’t graced the octagon since shattering his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.