Conor McGregor (image via UFC / YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Not long ago, Conor McGregor said he was in talks to return to the Octagon this April. But, now it’s looking like the polarizing star may not fight again until next summer.

The former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion hasn’t competed since July 2021, when he snapped his leg during a rubber match with Dustin Poirier. At the beginning of 2023, it was announced McGregor would fight Michael Chandler sometime this year, following the fighter’s coaching roles on TUF.

But, as months went by and McGregor remained out of the USADA testing pool, the decorated fighter’s return remained uncertain. More recently, McGregor’s long-time coach John Kavanaugh appeared on The MMA Hour. While doing so, he reported McGregor’s return to the cage in April looks unlikely (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“We were hoping for April. That was the hope. That was what we were told. And now it seems to be the summertime,” Kavanagh said.

“I don’t know [why]. That’s literally what we were having a bit of a back and forward [about] today.”

McGregor has repeatedly expressed frustration about the fact his next fight has yet to occur. Kavanaugh acknowledged that the additional postponement has been tough to take, but that the fighter is preparing for his return.

“Well, I was [worried about his mental health] too, I’m not going to lie. But hearing him today, he’s out there finding this great group of training partners — at least he’s doing that,” Kavanagh said. “Hey, it’s not quite the same as getting in to compete in front of a large crowd, but at least he’s getting training in, and that’s so important. We heard Volk talk about that, ‘Keep me busy,’ and all that. So I love to hear that he’s training hard with these guys.

“But look, and this is what I was saying to him as well — yeah, OK, it’s a knock back if we’re hearing it was April but now it’s July, but it’s not the end of the world. It is an extra couple of months. It’s not great. But hey, you’re enjoying your training at the moment…”

McGregor ultimately re-entered the USADA testing program in early October, before it was announced the UFC is ending its partnership with the organization.