Is Conor McGregor Finally Back? Social Media Tease Fuels UFC Return Buzz

Conor McGregor may have just dropped the biggest hint yet. Late Tuesday night, the former two-division UFC champion took to social media with a message that strongly suggests his long-awaited return is finally locked in potentially ending a five-year absence from the Octagon.

McGregor didn’t hold back in typical fashion. “The rumors are true! Mr. Confidence returns to save fighting again!” he wrote. “Hey Paramount Plus, see you guys soon. I’m so excited! And born ready!”

While no official announcement has been made, the message aligns with ongoing reports that negotiations between McGregor and the UFC have been progressing and may now be complete.

One major hurdle in negotiations centered around money. The UFC’s new seven-year, $7.7 billion deal with Paramount+ eliminated the traditional pay-per-view model  a structure that previously made McGregor the biggest earner in the sport.

That meant:

• New compensation terms had to be negotiated
• McGregor’s value had to be restructured
• Both sides needed to find common ground

Now, it appears they may have.

International Fight Week Target

All signs point toward a return during International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

The likely landing spot:

• July 11
• T-Mobile Arena
• Expected to be UFC 329

The Nevada Athletic Commission is also set to approve upcoming fight dates another key step toward making the event official.

McGregor was initially pushing for a spot on the highly anticipated White House card in June. But that event comes with unique financial challenges. Reports indicate the UFC is expected to lose over $60 million on the show making it difficult to justify McGregor’s massive payday. Translation: Even McGregor has limits when the math doesn’t work.