THE UFC’s stance on Conor McGregor’s return has been revealed.
The Irishman was set to end his octagon hiatus last June against Michael Chandler but was forced out of their long-overdue showdown with a broken left pinky toe.
UFC supremo Dana White forecast an autumn return for the promotion’s poster boy late last year but has seemingly since changed his tune.
McGregor, 36, has two fights left on his contract with the UFC, who Chandler claims haven’t changed their position on who they want ‘The Notorious’ to fight next.
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, he said: “Conor is always a part of [my conversations with the UFC] man.
“His road back to the UFC goes through me… That is the UFC’s sentiment, and I believe that’s his sentiment.
“My heart of hearts says Conor is coming back at some point. But, if I’m a betting man, if I’m using my brain, I wouldn’t put money on it.
“But that’s where I’m at today, right now, I’m focused on a blonde dude from Liverpool.”
Chandler, who faces Brit Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 in Miami in April, wasted the best part of two years waiting for a lucrative showdown with Mystic Mac to come to fruition.
And he has serious doubts about him ever setting foot inside the octagon again.
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.
He continued: “So, my heart of hearts says I’m not sure, for sure. He has to come back to his first love…
“Every single thing that he has can be tied back, in some way or another, to the UFC, the opportunity that they gave him.
“Does he want this legacy to be, my last fight I broke my leg and touted the greatest comeback in combat sports history?
“Fooled everybody for a couple of years and then signed on the dotted line to fight Michael Chandler and then pulled out of the fight.
[But], if I was a betting man, I ain’t putting money on [him fighting again].”
McGregor, 36, hasn’t fought since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
The Dubliner was recently linked to a crossover boxing match with Logan Paul.
And he’s since revealed he’s more intrigued by the prospect of competing in the influencer boxing scene than inside the cage.
He told The Schmo: “I am more inclined now for this influencer (boxing), or whatever you call it, because it’s astronomical money.
“Astronomical, the figures. So who was there? There’s Jake [Paul], Logan, and f*****g KSI.
“I like the three of these guys, and then all of the other ones that are tussling around. It’s an interesting little side pocket branch, we call it.”
