Conor McGregor accepts UFC ultimatum for octagon return
Conor McGregor has announced he has accepted the UFC’s ultimatum for his octagon return, before making another switch to boxing.
McGregor has been in a constant exchange with rival Dustin Poirier over a potential fight this year, which would see it as his return to the UFC after his bout with Donald Cerrone.
'NEVER SEEN THAT’: UFC in shock over 'craziest KO in history'
‘CAR CRASH’: Fans concerned after 'ridiculous' Tyson interview
According to the pair, in a recent Twitter exchange, they had both agreed but McGregor wanted the fight to be held this year.
But Dana White made it clear this wasn’t going to happen with the rest of the cards for 2020 booked.
However, on Thursday, McGregor said he had accepted the new offer for January next year.
I accept, Jan 23rd is on!
My goal is to see this fight take place in Cowboy stadium. Proper Style! Jerry Jones is a friend and the stadium can hold our crowd. I will be ready for Texas and Texas will be ready for my fans!
Then Manny. #McGregorSportsandEntertainment— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 14, 2020
It would be the second fight between the two lightweights. McGregor won the first bout via first-round knockout at UFC 178 in September of 2014.
McGregor, 32, has been off since January. He defeated Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 in his first fight since the October 2018 loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Poirier, 31, was supposed to fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 254 but the contract was never finalised. He last fought in June, a unanimous decision win over Dan Hooker.
But McGregor continues to claim his next fight will be with boxing legend Manny Pacquiao after his octagon return.
McGregor pushes for Pacquiao fight
McGregor has continually tweeted he would be fighting the boxing great and claimed earlier it would be in “the Middle East”, which caused a stir on social media.
McGregor’s manager, Audie Attar, told ESPN’s Ariel Helwani on Friday that the two sides are in “serious talks” for a boxing match in either December or January — adding more weight to McGregor’s claims on Twitter.
McGregor did take on boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in 2017, one of the highest-grossing fights of all time.
A fight with Pacquiao — the 41-year-old has world titles in eight different weight classes and owns a stellar 62-7-2 overall record — would likely rival that.
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
