[autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag] is gearing up for a 2025 return to the UFC.
It’s been more three years since McGregor competed when he broke his leg in an injury TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. McGregor was scheduled to return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 this past June, but he pulled out due to a broken pinky toe. McGregor has fought while injured before, but after such a long layoff, he wanted to be 100 percent healthy.
Having waited for almost two years to fight McGregor, Chandler finally decided to move on and will run things back with Charles Oliveira in the UFC 309 co-main event Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden. McGregor still hopes to face Chandler but said several names are currently in talks to fight him.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) didn’t name any fighters specifically but said a trilogy with Nate Diaz and a fourth fight with Poirier still interest him.
“We’re looking for the date,” McGregor told The Schmo. “I’d like to square it away with Michael Chandler. You know, I’d like to get Chandler in. We’ve had our beef. It’s not settled. He has a match scheduled. I would like to fight before he’s recovered. There’s a few names in the line at the minute. There’s a few names being discussed.”
Chandler (23-8 MMA, 2-3 UFC) also hasn’t fully moved on from fighting McGregor. He recently told MMA Junkie Radio that “Conor McGregor is not my next opponent, but I am Conor McGregor’s next opponent.”
Whether or not things play out that way remains to be seen.
[lawrence-related id=2774250,2773337,2773074,2772488]