Conor McGregor is closer than ever to stepping back into the Octagon after a long hiatus. The former dual-weight UFC champion has not competed since breaking his leg in a trilogy clash with Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Fans have speculated endlessly about his next move, while McGregor stayed mostly silent—until now.
McGregor and Michael Chandler linked
Since his injury, Conor McGregor has been strongly connected to a showdown with Michael Chandler. The two lightweight stars filmed a season of The Ultimate Fighter together, which fueled anticipation for their matchup. They had agreed to meet at UFC 303 in June 2024, but McGregor withdrew after suffering a broken toe in training. UFC President Dana White later ruled out rescheduling the fight when McGregor aimed to headline the UFC White House card on June 14.
McGregor provides a major comeback update
Recently, McGregor offered fans a hint about his return. He confirmed that his opponent and fight date are already set, though he did not reveal the name. “I have been offered an opponent and a date, and I accept,” he tweeted Wednesday morning. “Waiting on my contract.” As usual, McGregor deleted the post from his X account shortly afterward. Now, the MMA world waits for Dana White to officially announce one of the most anticipated comebacks of 2026.
The contract remains the final hurdle
Landing a fight contract with Conor McGregor has proven complicated. In January, the 37-year-old fighter said his UFC deal was “void” after the promotion signed a $7.7 billion broadcast agreement with Paramount. “I’m going into negotiations with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in February. I’m very interested to go. They’ve actually got a new deal with Paramount, it’s worth $7.7 billion. The company has 4xed its profit,” he explained. McGregor added that his old contract was tied to PPV sales, which no longer exist. “I’m the highest-generating PPV fighter of all time. The PPV system is done, I’m due a new contract. So, we’re going into negotiations in February, and I’m very interested to see how it goes.”
Negotiations appear to have gone well, as McGregor now has a fight date and opponent. Signing the contract remains the final step before he officially returns to the Octagon.
