Years in the making: How we got to Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone at UFC 246

A timeline of all the key moments that led to Conor McGregor vs. Donald Cerrone in the UFC 246 headliner.

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May 1, 2019: Cerrone gives up on McGregor fight: ‘The chase is over’

Once the McGregor fight failed to materialize, Cerrone accepts a main event spot vs. Al Iaquinta at UFC on ESPN+ 9 in May. During a pre-fight interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Cerrone declares his campaign to land a fight with McGregor as dead.

“The chase is over,” Cerrone said. “It’s done.”

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May 4, 2019: Cerrone reignites interest in McGregor fight

Cerrone defeats Iaquinta by lopsided unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN+ 9. Afterward, he calls for a lightweight title shot, but says he’s down to fight McGregor if the Irishman finally wants to put pen to paper.

“I want the title, whatever that means. Unless, Conor McGregor, you want to fight me in July,” Cerrone said. “I’m ready. Fourth of July, let’s do it.”

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May 8, 2019: White says McGregor vs. Cerrone ‘makes sense’

Just days after Cerrone’s impressive win over Iaquinta and post-fight mention of McGregor, White conducted an interview on The Jim Rome Show and puts the fight back on the table as a possibility for UFC 239 in July.

“This Cerrone fight makes sense, there’s a couple different options out there for him,” White said. “He was talking about the Cerrone fight at one point. I don’t really know but that fight makes sense.

“(McGregor) and I are getting together very soon within the next week and we’re going to figure out what next for him and I see him fighting this summer.”

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May 24, 2019: McGregor reveals hand injury

The possibility of a McGregor return fight in July hits a snag as the former UFC champ posts a photo on social media revealing a cast covering his broken hand.

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June 5, 2019: Cerrone focuses on title over McGregor

After McGregor’s injury, UFC books Cerrone in a late-notice title eliminator fight with Tony Ferguson at UFC 238 in June. At open workouts prior to the event, Cerrone says the belt is his focus, not a matchup with McGregor.

“No (I’m going to go with the title),” Cerrone said. “Conor’s had his shot. Sit your ass down now. (I’ll) take the belt.”

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Aug. 22, 2019: McGregor makes no mention of Cerrone

In a televised interview with ESPN, McGregor apologizes for his infamous bar punch in Ireland and discusses plans to return to the UFC in late 2019 or early 2020. He details a number of potential opponents he could face in his comeback fight, but does not drop Cerrone’s name during the interview.

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Sept. 12, 2019: Cerrone again dismisses McGregor fight

Following his loss to Ferguson at UFC 238, Cerrone is booked against Justin Gaethje in the UFC on ESPN+ 16 main event in September. He’s asked about a future fight with McGregor during media day, but expresses doubt about McGregor returning to the octagon, much less getting the fight.

“It’s been a lot of talk, a lot of years,” Cerrone said. “Who knows? To me, chasing that is not even worth it to me. Are you going to come back? (Expletive) or get off the pot, bro.”

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Oct. 24, 2019: McGregor announces UFC return for Jan. 18

After more than a year away from the octagon, McGregor hosts a press conference in Moscow and announces he will return to the octagon at UFC 246 on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas, an event that had yet to be revealed by the UFC.

“I would like to announce the return of ‘The Notorious’ Conor McGregor will take place on Jan. 18 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.,” McGregor said. “Ask the UFC who the opponent is, because I do not give a (expletive) who the opponent is.”

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Oct. 31, 2019: White targets McGregor vs. Cerrone for UFC 246

One week after McGregor’s comeback announcement, White confirms a matchup with Cerrone is in the works for Jan. 18 in an interview with TMZ, but emphasizes that contract are not signed.

“We have nothing done, nothing is even close to being done, so I hate to even talk about this stuff and say it, because it might not happen,” White said. “It might happen, but we’re looking at ‘Cowboy.’ No. 3 vs. No. 5 (in the UFC rankings), Jan. 18 at the T-Mobile (Arena) in Las Vegas.”

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Nov. 1, 2019: McGregor coach confirms comeback plans

During an interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn at UFC 244 media day, McGregor’s longtime head coach John Kavanagh confirms his star pupil is back in the gym at SBG Ireland in Dublin training consistently and he fully expects plans for a return fight against Cerrone on Jan. 18 to come to fruition.

“I have a feeling it’s pretty close for contracts to be signed and everything to be made 100 percent,” Kavanagh said “Our mindset anyway is we’re preparing for 11 weeks Saturday.”

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Nov. 28, 2019: White announces McGregor vs. Cerrone for UFC 246

White tells ESPN that McGregor vs. Cerrone is a done deal for the main event of UFC 246 on Jan. 18 in Las Vegas. The matchup comes with a twist, though, as it is set to take place in the welterweight division and not at lightweight.

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Nov. 30, 2019: McGregor pleasant to Cerrone in first exchange

In their first interaction since the fight was booked, McGregor comments on Cerrone’s Instagram account wishing him and his family well during the holiday season exactly 50 days prior to UFC 246.

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