Conor McGregor accepts ‘no-name’ opponent and hints at frustration over UFC return

Conor McGregor has hinted astatine a level of vexation complete his return to nan UFC, arsenic he continues to oculus a summertime fight.

McGregor has not fought since 2021, erstwhile he suffered a surgery limb successful a 2nd consecutive nonaccomplishment to Dustin Poirier, but he remains nan biggest sanction successful mixed martial arts.

And pinch nan UFC planning an unprecedented conflict paper astatine nan White House connected 14 June, earlier their yearly International Fight Week arena this summer, location are readymade opportunities for McGregor to return.

However, it seems improbable that nan Irishman will characteristic astatine nan White House, fixed UFC president Dana White said past week that the paper is “built”, earlier adding of McGregor’s adjacent fight: “If it was done and he accepted it, I would denote it.”

Those second words followed a social-media station from McGregor, who had written: “It’s a nary sanction up adjacent for maine possibly, folks [...] I ACCEPT. Send nan contract, lads.” The 37-year-old later deleted nan post.

However, he returned to societal media connected Monday to write: “Day 15 of ‘I accept, nonstop nan contract.’”

White had antecedently been coy astir McGregor’s chances of fighting astatine nan White House, contempt nan erstwhile champion’s desperation to feature. In immoderate case, McGregor suggested past period that his statement needs to beryllium reworked.

“They’ve sewage a caller woody pinch Paramount... and my statement fundamentally is void correct now, because there’s nary much PPV [pay-per-view], whereas my statement was based connected PPV sales,” McGregor claimed.

“I’m nan highest-generating PPV combatant of each clip [in nan UFC]. The PPV strategy is done. I’m owed a caller contract. So, we’re going into negotiations successful February, and I’m very willing to spot really it goes.”

McGregor was referencing nan truth that nan UFC is nary longer airing its events connected pay-per-view successful nan US, with nan promotion’s Paramount+ woody revolving astir a subscription model.

Fans proceed to estimate connected McGregor’s force for a imaginable comeback, but White has ruled retired Colby Covington and Michael Chandler, nan second of whom nan Irishman was owed to look successful 2024.

McGregor withdrew from nan bout connected 2 weeks’ notice, citing a surgery toe, and Chandler went connected to suffer to Charles Oliveira that November. McGregor and Chandler had been linked since early 2023, moreover filming a play of nan reality tv show The Ultimate Fighter together, connected which they served arsenic opposing coaches.

It is expected that McGregor’s return will return spot astatine welterweight (170lb), wherever he has fought connected 3 occasions, and wherever he was owed to look Chandler. McGregor is 2-1 astatine nan weight, having traded wins pinch Nate Diaz successful 2016 earlier stopping Donald Cerrone successful 40 seconds 4 years later.

However, his top successes came astatine featherweight (145lb) and lightweight (155lb). By winning nan titles successful those 2 divisions, successful 2015 and 2016 respectively, he became nan first dual-weight champion successful UFC history. McGregor’s wide grounds stands astatine 22-6.