Dana White has recently confirmed that Conor McGregor won’t be fighting in 2024.
Despite months of speculation and rumours, the UFC president made it clear that the Irishman’s return to the Octagon will have to wait:
“We’ve talked, we haven’t met up in person, but we’ve talked!” White said about ongoing discussions regarding McGregor’s future.
Soon after, McGregor took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his own plans. He hinted at wanting to fight in December, aiming to “bring the calendar year home with a winning event!” He even mentioned altitude training next month to prepare for a potential fight by the end of the year.
Conor McGregor Reacts to Dana White Shutting Down UFC 2024 Return
Throughout 2024, McGregor has kept fans on their toes with his social media activity. He’s been calling out various potential opponents, with Michael Chandler being a frequent target. This comes as no surprise since both men were coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31. They were originally slated to face off at UFC 303 on June 29. However, the fight was scrapped when McGregor suffered a broken toe just 16 days before the bout.
Michael Chandler Had Enough?
With the fight against Chandler falling through, Chandler recently spoke to Lucky Block about shifting his focus:
“It doesn’t sound as bleak as a lot of people would think, given Conor’s antics with the ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin vest and the drinking Forged Irish Stout at Bare Knuckle FC, but we’ll see.” He added, “Either way, I’ve always felt that if the Conor fight didn’t happen, I’m going to be just fine. I would put butts in seats, sell pay-per-views, and entertain the entire world when I step inside the Octagon.”
Chandler has also expressed interest in a rematch with Charles Oliveira:
“I think it’s a great fight to get the fans pumped up,” Chandler said. “I almost had him finished in the first round, and then I made a glaring mistake in the second round that I would never, ever make again.” He continued, “It was almost a self-fulfilling prophecy that I was working on in camp that turned out to be my demise. Me and Charles for the number one contender spot. I beat Charles, knock him out in the first round, then all of a sudden, I’m sitting at the number one contender spot, and I get to choose whether I fight Islam [Makhachev], or do I fight Conor next? And why not both?”
Despite McGregor’s star power and impressive UFC record, finding an opponent is not always straightforward. The relationship between McGregor and Dana White has been strained over the past few years, making negotiations more complex. Ultimately, without White’s approval, McGregor won’t be stepping into the Octagon.
However, McGregor’s desire to return to fighting might just spark the motivation he needs to start training in earnest. Who knows, by 2025, we might see him back in the cage, regardless of who his opponent turns out to be.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
