Conor McGregor's Octagon return has been rumored for several months now since the conclusion of his epic boxing fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. - and there's still no clear indication on when the 155-pound UFC champion might return.
"The Notorious One" hasn't competed inside the Octagon since November of last year when he captured the lightweight championship from Eddie Alvarez. McGregor knocked out "The Underground King" in the second round via TKO.
With the win he became the first dual-weight champion in UFC history, as he also held the featherweight championship at the same time. After the win he decided to take time off from competition to enjoy the birth of his first child - but that didn't last long.
He soon became embroiled in a huge "money fight" spectacle with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the boxing world.
McGregor went ten rounds with, arguably, the greatest boxer of all time before suffering a 10th round TKO loss after exhausting himself and being unable to answer a flurry of shots.
UFC President Dana White speculated that McGregor could return to the UFC to fight as soon as late December, however, that didn't get done.
It was also speculated that McGregor could fight in Boston next month, however, that looks highly unlikely.
Now White has released a new timetable for the Irishman's return, and tells ESPN SportsCenter that his lightweight champion could finally return in the summer time.
While some thought that McGregor would definitely be fighting interim 155-pound champion Tony Ferguson, White now says that the winner of this weekend's Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Edson Barboza fight could now fight "El Cucuy" for the opportunity to fight McGregor (quotes via MMA Mania):
“Hopefully he starts to get the itch to come back and hopefully we can get him back this summer,” promotion president Dana White told ESPN SportsCenter (via MMA NYTT).
“Whoever wins the Barboza-Khabib fight while we’re trying to figure out this Conor mess could end up fighting Tony Ferguson for the opportunity to fight Conor McGregor.”
What are your thoughts on White saying that McGregor probably won't be back inside the Octagon until summer of next year? Do you think that he should be stripped of the UFC lightweight championship? Or should they allow him to hold onto it for a bit longer until he finally defends a championship? Let us know your thoughts on the matter in the comments section below!
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