Conor McGregor bypasses Dana White with desperate plea to finalise UFC return date after being put on ice until 2025 UK WIRE

Conor McGregor bypasses Dana White with desperate plea to finalise UFC return date after being put on ice until 2025

by Markel

in Sports

Reading Time: 13 mins read

CONOR MCGREGOR has seemingly bypassed Dana White in a desperate attempt to finalise his long-awaited return to the UFC.

The Notorious’ long-overdue comeback clash with Michael Chandler collapsed last week when his fellow fan favourite agreed to rematch Charles Oliveira in November.

Conor McGregor's comeback clash against Michael Chandler was scrapped last week — Conor McGregor’s comeback clash against Michael Chandler was scrapped last weekCredit: GETTY

McGregor was left stunned by Dana White's decision to give Chandler a different fight — McGregor was left stunned by Dana White’s decision to give Chandler a different fightCredit: Getty

The Notorious has made an emotional plea to Turki Alalshikh in a bid to finalise his returnCredit: GETTY

UFC President and CEO White then revealed that the promotion plan to have their poster boy return to the cage NEXT YEAR.

Both announcements blindsided McGregor, who has reached out to Saudi bigwig Turki Alalshikh – who recently struck up a lucrative partnership with MMA‘s top promotion – to try to seal a new date for his comeback.

The former two-division champion said: “I’ve been tested more than twice than these other athletes, yet I struggle to get a date.

“So I’ve talked to Sheikh Turki and I’ve said, ‘Sheikh Turki, can you assist me here?”

McGregor, 36, was due to return to the cage in the summer but was forced out of his June joust with Chandler after breaking his left pinky toe in sparring.

The Irishman revealed to SunSport that he was pivoting to a December return, although White and the rest of the UFC brass have different ideas for him.

White told the New York Post: “I was the one this year saying I don’t think he’s going to fight this year, amid all the talk and everything else.

“Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025.”

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Inside McGregor’s Notorious lifestyle

Conor McGregor bypasses Dana White with desperate plea to finalise UFC return date after being put on ice until 2025

With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor’s rise has been an enthralling watch.

When asked last Friday if he’s “confident” about McGregor fighting next year, he said: “Yes. I wasn’t 100 per cent in 2024, but I am in 2025.”

“I just am,” the 55-year-old said when pressed further on the Dubliner’s future. “I know more than you guys know.

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“I’m 100 per cent confident McGregor will fight next year.”

Despite all the recent setbacks his cage comeback has suffered, McGregor – who hasn’t fought since breaking his left leg over three years – is still hopeful of gracing the octagon again.

He said: “As far as Chandler rematching Oliveira, I’m happy with the date.

“It’s November. Maybe we can still do it after, if they’re not going to line me up until December, maybe January or February, one of these dates.

“Maybe we can still do it. I’m just a bit out of the loop with it. All I can do is carry on doing what I’m doing.

“I test under the testing administration, I train daily, and that’s it.

“Let’s see what happens. Hopefully, it all comes to fruition.”