Conor McGregor could finally be getting ready to step back inside the UFC octagon after almost five years away from fighting. UFC CEO Dana White said talks with McGregor are now moving in the right direction and a return fight could happen this summer. While the UFC has still not officially announced an opponent or date, White sounded more confident than he has in a long time about McGregor’s comeback plans.For months, fans have heard different rumors about where McGregor could fight and who he could face. One of the biggest possibilities is UFC 329 during International Fight Week on July 11 in Las Vegas. Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway has reportedly been discussed as a possible opponent, although the UFC has not confirmed anything yet. Speaking to sports radio host Jim Rome, White said McGregor is fully training again and looks motivated for a return.“We’re in a good place,” White said. “We’re in a great place with Conor. I’m extremely confident that Conor will fight this year. I’m extremely confident that we’ll get him dialed in and ready to roll. He’s training, there’s footage out there of him in training right now.”White also made it clear that fans should expect McGregor back sooner rather than later. “We haven’t announced anything yet,” White said. “He’ll fight this summer. Let me just start there. He’ll fight this summer.”
Dana White says Conor McGregor is training again as UFC eyes International Fight Week return
McGregor was first expected to return earlier this year for the UFC card planned around the White House event on June 14. But according to White, the promotion later changed direction. That has now increased speculation that UFC 329 could become the official landing spot for McGregor’s comeback.At the same time, UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev has been linked to UFC 330 in August. Because of that, July appears to be the most likely option for McGregor if the UFC wants him to headline a major pay-per-view event during International Fight Week. White admitted that he also believed McGregor would fight last year, but those plans never came together.“I thought it would happen last year. It didn’t,” White said. “I’m extremely confident it will happen this summer. He seems motivated, he’s training. There are a lot of other great things going on behind the scenes that make me very confident he’ll fight this summer.”McGregor has not fought since July 2021 when he broke his leg during his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. Since then, the Irish star has stayed busy outside the cage. He coached “The Ultimate Fighter,” continued his rivalry with Michael Chandler, and also became a part-owner in BKFC. Now, after years of questions about whether he would ever return, McGregor finally looks closer than ever to making his UFC comeback official.
