DANA WHITE has cast huge doubt over an imminent Conor McGregor by ruling out several proposed dates.
The Irishman was supposed to make his long-awaited octagon return this weekend in the main event of UFC 303 in Las Vegas.
GETTYConor McGregor was due to face Michael Chandler at UFC 303 this weekend[/caption]
X@THENOTORIOUSMMABut he was forced to pull out of the fight with a broken toe[/caption]
GETTYUFC CEO and President Dana White has ruled out the prospect of The Notorious returning any time soon[/caption]
But his comeback clash with Michael Chandler was postponed earlier this month after he suffered a broken left pinky toe in one of his final sparring sessions.
SunSport understands Team McGregor believe the UFC‘s poster boy will be fit and ready to compete within the next two months.
A late August return has been mooted, as well as a September slugfest with fellow fan favourite Chandler.
The prospect of McGregor potentially returning in either August or September and even October was recently put to UFC head-honcho White.
But the veteran promoter brutally shut down suggestions of the Return of the Mac taking place in either of those months with a blunt four-word response.
The 54-year-old told Barstool Sports: “None of the above.”
Former two-division champion McGregor, 35, has gone on record with his desire to fight in August or September.
When asked quizzed about when he wants to return, the Dubliner told SevereMMA: “August, September, I’d love [that]. I’m in recovery mode.”
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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.
White, however, is refusing to start thinking about a new date for Mystic Mac’s return until he gets the medical go-ahead.
He said last weekend: “I’m not doing anything until I know that Conor is healthy.
“It’s not even worth talking about. What about September? What about October?
“He’s not ready. So why even talk about that?”
He added: “I’m not thinking about Conor fighting anybody right now.
“I have no time frame, I have nothing.
“McGregor’s not even healed yet. McGregor’s hurt.”
McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier nearly three years ago.