UFC news: Conor McGregor is expected to return to the octagon

"Last I heard, by the way, Conor could come back in February, March or so. It doesn’t look like he’s coming back in 2022."

Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier in a file photo [Image-Twitter]
By Blesson Daniel | Jun 11, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

After a year out from the octagon due to a horrific leg break last year, Conor McGregor is scheduled to return in 2023. McGregor’s most recent appearance on a fight card was in July 2021, when he faced Dustin Poirier. Last summer, Poirier inflicted the horrific damage on the Irishman, securing a nasty round-one victory over his opponent. There has been a lot of conjecture about when McGregor would return, with many predicting an autumn return. However, it appears that this aim will arrive too soon, with mixed martial arts journalist Ariel Helwani predicting that it will arrive in ‘February or March.’

Helwani said, “Last I heard, by the way, Conor could come back in February, March or so. It doesn’t look like he’s coming back in 2022. So now, here you have a guy who hasn’t fought since (July) of last year. He’s [Nate Diaz] gonna wait for a year-and-a-half for a dude that, obviously he knows he’ll make money fighting him, but does he really wanna sit around in the prime of his life when he’s as popular can be, for this fight? What if Conor is coming back, stumbles, and gets hurt again? There are a million different things that could happen.”

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Conor McGregor may return by early 2023

McGregor has proven to be one of the UFC‘s most prominent personalities in recent years, and everyone in the league will be wanting to see him back as soon as possible. Helwani, on the other hand, says there is no need to rush back after such a terrible injury. He said, “There’s no guarantee that he’s coming back tomorrow, next month, the month after that, and the last I heard was early 2023. There’s no rush here, as there shouldn’t be a rush because he’s coming back from such a gruesome and serious injury.”

McGregor reportedly recently addressed the possibility of a comeback, saying, “The body’s doing good. I’m out here with my full team… I should be able to kick now, I have another CT scan in the coming days and then I’ll be clear to kick. Once I can kick and grapple I’ll be back in no time. Boxing training is going well, strength training and that’s all. I’m excited to get back.”