Conor McGregor teases imminent ‘new’ UFC fight date announcement after Dana White’s alarming statement after toe injury
CONOR MCGREGOR has teased an imminent announcement of the “new date” for his UFC return.
The MMA superstar was set to make his long-awaited cage comeback last month in the main event of UFC 303 in Las Vegas.
But a broken pinky toe in one of his final sparring sessions before jetting off to Sin City scuppered his desert dust-up with Michael Chandler.
Team McGregor have earmarked late August or early September for the rescheduled return of the UFC’s poster boy.
And the Irishman has suggested an announcement could be right around the corner in an X post praising recent comments made by light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
The Notorious wrote: “Real recognize real. Excited to secure my new date.”
McGregor – the UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion – is champing at the bit to get back in the octagon.
But UFC supremo Dana White is refusing to start plotting a new date for his return until he gets the all-clear from doctors.
When the prospect of McGregor potentially returning in either August, September or October was put to him, he told Barstool Sports: “None of the above.”
The veteran promoter additionally said late last month: “I’m not doing anything until I know that Conor is healthy.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Inside McGregor's Notorious lifestyle
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor's rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
“It’s not even worth talking about. What about September? What about October?
“He’s not ready. So why even talk about that?”
He added: “I’m not thinking about Conor fighting anybody right now.
“I have no time frame, I have nothing.
“McGregor’s not even healed yet. McGregor’s hurt.”
McGregor, 35, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier nearly three years ago.
And he was left devastated by his first-ever withdrawal from a UFC bout, saying: “We were so f***ing super ready for this fight it is absolutely gut-wrenching to take.
“We had a lapse in concentration and engaged in a training session without wearing the full protective gear.
“And I hit the toe off the elbow and broke the toe clean.
“It needs a few weeks that’s it.
“I couldn’t justify to my team, or fans, that I make the walk hindered again. That walk has been seen.
“This next walk has got to be, and it will be, 100 per cent Conor McGregor. The fans deserve it and we are getting close.
“A slight lapse in concentration and a nuisance of an injury was picked up.
“That’s it. Take the lesson and move forward. I will get this back. I’ve got to.
“I’ve got two fights left on my contract. I’m coming to shine. I gotta just take my time.
“I’ll be back. See ya’s soon. See ya at the top. Chandler or not.”