Insider sheds light on Conor McGregor's potential UFC return amid Dana White's announcement tease
An insider from Conor McGregor's camp has provided a look into what the future could hold for the combat sports megastar. This comes in the wake of UFC CEO Dana White's recent remarks about a possible fight announcement regarding McGregor.
Conor McGregor's most recent professional combat sports contest was a lightweight MMA bout, his rematch against Dustin Poirier, at UFC 264 (July 2021). McGregor suffered a gruesome mid-fight leg injury and lost via first-round TKO.
McGregor later appeared on Season 31 of the UFC's TUF ('The Ultimate Fighter') reality show in a coaching capacity opposite UFC lightweight Michael Chandler in 2023. 'The Notorious' was officially scheduled to fight Chandler in a welterweight bout at UFC 303 (June 29, 2024). However, a toe injury forced McGregor out of that event.
In regard to McGregor's comeback, his personal photographer Dave Fogarty recently put forth an update. Ahead of his boxing debut against 'Deen The Great,' which he ultimately lost via knockout, at Misfits Boxing 17 (Aug. 31, 2024), Fogarty spoke to Bloody Elbow and recalled learning valuable fighting lessons from McGregor.
Thanking his fellow Irishman, he also expressed his gratitude for having trained with boxing coach Phil Sutcliffe, Emmett Brennan, and the Crumlin Boxing Club. Additionally, he highlighted that McGregor is eyeing a return toward the end of 2024. Fogarty stated:
"I know Conor is pushing for December or something towards the end of the year ... That's what I think will happen, he'll fight when he's ready."
"When Conor fights, I'm sweating, I'm nervous because I've seen all the work that he's put in, I've been there every session. I know the dedication it takes to get him to that level. So all I want is the best for him," he added.
Moreover, Dave Fogarty seemingly believes that Conor McGregor is the biggest star in the modern-day combat sports landscape.
Dana White's statement on Conor McGregor's potential comeback, the UFC legend's response
UFC head honcho Dana White has lately maintained that Conor McGregor is unlikely to fight in 2024. Meanwhile, McGregor has been adamant about wanting to fight this year. Nevertheless, some feel that the Irishman's entrepreneurial endeavors and jet-setting lifestyle might delay his MMA comeback.
During a recent Instagram Live session, White implied that the UFC is likely to make fight announcements regarding some of its top stars like McGregor, Chandler, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, and Alexander Volkanovski. The 55-year-old notably said:
"We've got Conor news coming up..."
For his part, Conor McGregor responded by putting forth a standalone tweet, which many believe was connected to Dana White's comments. McGregor's tweet contained nothing but a winking face emoji, presumably teasing the potential revelation of a secret.
Presently, his comeback date hasn't been officially announced. In addition, McGregor signaled that he could fight Chandler at UFC 310 in December 2024. Alternatively, he and Chandler have indicated that they could pursue other opponents instead.