Conor McGregor’s return to the octagon is just over the horizon. On Friday, the former Lightweight and Featherweight champion teased his comeback with a post on social media.
“Coming Soon,” McGregor wrote on X, along with a video of him walking toward the cage with the Irish flag draped over his shoulders.
McGregor has not fought in the UFC since July 10, 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in the first round of his loss against Dustin Poirier. McGregor is now rumored to fight Michael Chandler on June 29.
The pair have been linked in fight rumors for over a year now. McGregor and Chandler co-starred as opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter,” a contest-based show that focuses on up-and-coming mixed martial artists.
Typically, each season climaxes in two final fights: one between the final two contestants and another between the two coaches. Fans received no such luck, with McGregor unable to fight due to his obligation in Amazon Prime’s remake of “Road House.”
UFC president Dana White has openly defended McGregor’s repetitive postponements.
“First of all, he is coming back from one of the nastiest injuries you can come back from,” White said. “How long was Anderson Silva out for when he did it? How long was Chris Weidman out when he did it? Conor McGregor doesn’t need the f****** money.
“So, when you don’t need the money, it’s not as easy. Khabib [Nurmagomedov] doesn’t need the money, Khabib retired. Conor McGregor has a movie coming out, he’s got businesses he’s building, it’s a completely different dynamic when you’re dealing with a guy who has this kind of money.”
Despite his lack of appearances in the octagon, McGregor certainly stays busy. The 35-year-old Irishman boasts endorsement deals with Beats by Dre, Monster Energy, Reebok and Bud Light. Additionally, McGregor founded Proper No. Twelve Irish whiskey, which he reportedly sold for over $600 million in 2021.
If McGregor does step back on the canvas, he’s in for another major pay day. McGregor’s total UFC earnings to date are estimated at around $25.1 million based on his purses and bonuses per fight. This figure does not include money from pay-per-view or his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.
With no official date announced yet for McGregor-Chandler, fans will simply have to trust the UFC legend’s word. His word claims his return is “coming soon.”
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