THE UFC’s stance on Conor McGregor’s return has been revealed.
The Irishman was set to end his octagon hiatus last June against Michael Chandler but was forced out of their long-overdue showdown with a broken left pinky toe.
UFC supremo Dana White forecast an autumn return for the promotion’s poster boy late last year but has seemingly since changed his tune.
McGregor, 36, has two fights left on his contract with the UFC, who Chandler claims haven’t changed their position on who they want ‘The Notorious’ to fight next.
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, he said: “Conor is always a part of [my conversations with the UFC] man.
“His road back to the UFC goes through me… That is the UFC’s sentiment, and I believe that’s his sentiment.
“My heart of hearts says Conor is coming back at some point. But, if I’m a betting man, if I’m using my brain, I wouldn’t put money on it.
“But that’s where I’m at today, right now, I’m focused on a blonde dude from Liverpool.”
Chandler, who faces Brit Paddy Pimblett at UFC 314 in Miami in April, wasted the best part of two years waiting for a lucrative showdown with Mystic Mac to come to fruition.
And he has serious doubts about him ever setting foot inside the octagon again.
He continued: “So, my heart of hearts says I’m not sure, for sure. He has to come back to his first love…
“Every single thing that he has can be tied back, in some way or another, to the UFC, the opportunity that they gave him.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Fans fear Conor McGregor will ‘never fight in UFC again’ as ‘worrying’ training video emerges ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6362974609112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]“Does he want this legacy to be, my last fight I broke my leg and touted the greatest comeback in combat sports history?
“Fooled everybody for a couple of years and then signed on the dotted line to fight Michael Chandler and then pulled out of the fight.
[But], if I was a betting man, I ain’t putting money on [him fighting again].”
McGregor, 36, hasn’t fought since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
The Dubliner was recently linked to a crossover boxing match with Logan Paul.
And he’s since revealed he’s more intrigued by the prospect of competing in the influencer boxing scene than inside the cage.
He told The Schmo: “I am more inclined now for this influencer (boxing), or whatever you call it, because it’s astronomical money.
“Astronomical, the figures. So who was there? There’s Jake [Paul], Logan, and f*****g KSI.
“I like the three of these guys, and then all of the other ones that are tussling around. It’s an interesting little side pocket branch, we call it.”