Conor McGregor says he’s staying ready for an opportunity to not only return to action, but become a “triple crown” UFC champion.
The Irishman’s current expectation is that the UFC will reach out to him soon about fighting on the White House card in July. If that’s when McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) does return to action, it will mark the end of a five-year absence from competition.
“The White House is on, we’re just waiting for full confirmation,” McGregor told Bloody Elbow. “I assume around February they’ll come reaching out, and we’ll go into contract negotiations and matchmaking and all this – that’s what they say. So, I’m just staying ready in gym, you know, two times a day.”
McGregor held the featherweight and lightweight UFC titles simultaneously at the peak of his run. However, he never defended either belt because he took on a lucrative side quest in the boxing ring against Floyd Mayweather. His return to the UFC at UFC 229, he failed to recapture the lightweight title after being submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The last time McGregor got his hand raised was in the fight that followed, a welterweight bout against Donald Cerrone at UFC 246. McGregor finished the fight in just 40 seconds. In 2021, he then lost a rematch and a trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier, breaking his ankle in the latter. Since then, he’s been recovering, working through a few legal battles, and engaging in business ventures, including becoming co-owner of BKFC.
With only one win in the nine years since he was double champ, McGregor says he’s found his competitive fire again as he’s begun a new spiritual journey. He not only wants to get back fighting, but is eying a welterweight title shot against Islam Makhachev. McGregor is 2-1 in fights at 170 pounds, with the win over Cerrone in 2020, and splitting outings against Nate Diaz in 2016. No one has ever won UFC titles in three divisions.
McGregor admits he was impressed with Makhachev’s performance against Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 to win the title, and thinks a bout between them would be a solid fight.
“I’m motivated. I’m self-motivated, and I for sure want a crack at that belt,” McGregor said. “I for sure want a crack at that 170-pound belt to go for the triple crown. … Good fight, be a good scrap. Southpaw vs. southpaw. It was a good performance out of him, and fair play, he had the courage to do it, to go up. So yeah, I’m excited for it. Let’s see what happens. Let’s get back in the mix.”
Michael Chandler has long been tabbed as the opponent for McGregor’s return since coaching opposite teams on Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Whether that fight finally comes together or not, McGregor says he simply wants to fight more than anything.
“Like I said, I hope, but I won’t say no to no one. I won’t,” McGregor said. “The UFC will decide it, and I don’t care. I just want to come back. I’m just eager to come back and show my work.”
