Conor McGregor’s Manager: ‘Things Are Heating Up’ For His Return to the UFC

When will Conor McGregor fight again?

That may be the most asked question in all of mixed martial arts today as McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC since November 2016 and August will mark one year since he stepped into the ring for a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.

Since that time, UFC president Dana White has mentioned several potential timelines for McGregor to return — the latest being September — but there’s still no concrete plan for when the biggest draw in the sport will book his next fight.

According to McGregor’s manager Audie Attar, the Irishman has been training for a return to action since the start of 2018, although there’s still no exact date for his next fight.

That being said, Attar adds that McGreogr’s return is imminent as it appears talks for his next fight could begin at any time.

“Conor’s been training from the beginning of the year. He’s made that known publicly,” Attar said on the “Believe You Me” podcast. “All these other rumors and people saying ‘oh he never fights again or will he ever fight again’. Dude’s an ultra competitor and he’s not done writing his own story.

“When is that? I don’t know. What I can tell you is things are heating up and as you see by his own social media, he’s staying ready.”

As far as McGregor jumping in on six days notice to face Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 223 after Tony Ferguson was forced out of the fight due to injury, Attar says that was never offered much less considered by the organization.

White had previously said that the UFC had no interest in calling on McGregor to fight on short notice, especially considering the fanfare that would be involved for his return to action.

Attar agreed with White by adding that McGregor demands too much money and attention to ever have him step into a card with only six days to promote his appearance.

“I don’t think the UFC would risk throwing him in on a weeks notice,” Attar said. “That’s a lot of money. That’s their biggest asset in the UFC. At the end of the day, I respect that. I get that. That’s another thing I heard Dana [White] say and I respect that. At the end of the day, it makes complete business sense.

“I can tell you things are heating up so we’ll see.”