Just caught up translation:
At Wembley Follow.
We talked about whether he’ll play this year, whether Chandler will play again and his upcoming free agency. pic.twitter.com/3Di04yS5X4
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani)
September 21, 2024
Conor McGregor is uncertain about his future once his current Ultimate Fighting Championship contract expires.
Arguably the sport’s greatest star of all time, McGregor has been out for more than three years since breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. McGregor played the role of Michael Chandler’s rival coach on “The Ultimate Fighter 31” last year and the pair were set to face off at UFC 303 in July this year, but “The Notorious” Chandler was forced to pull out due to a broken pinky finger. After waiting nearly two years for McGregor, Chandler has accepted a fight against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 on November 16, raising further questions about when the Irishman might return.
UFC CEO Dana White recently said McGregor will likely return in 2025, and the Dublin native confirmed that. McGregor was in attendance at Daniel Dubois’ knockout win over Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. McGregor spoke with Ariel Helwani about the timeline for his return and Chandler facing “The Bronx.”
“It’ll be 2025. We’ll see,” McGregor said. “The opponent that was scheduled is set… that’s the reality. I’ve just got to accept it and work hard. My job is to get in the gym, be in the gym and stay in shape. One thing’s for sure – wherever and whenever it is, I’ll be 100 percent ready. Now I’m just focused on that.”
McGregor has two fights remaining on his current contract with UFC, and is scheduled to fight in 2025.
“We have to,” he said. “This is the Promised Land. We’ll see what happens.”
And the former two-division UFC champion is uncertain about his future with UFC after becoming a free agent.
“I don’t know. I don’t think anybody in this business knows,” McGregor said. “I’m the highest-paid fighter on the planet right now. For me, being a free agent, I don’t really know what’s going to happen after this.”
The 36-year-old McGregor is arguably at a crossroads in his career, having lost three of his last four fights against top opponents. For his return opponent, McGregor is looking to settle his feud with Chandler and is hopeful that “Iron” can beat Oliveira.
“I want Chandler to win,” McGregor said, “I want to settle that, so I wish him the best against Oliveira, but we’ll see what happens.”
