Dana White Announces Massive News on Conor McGregor

The last time Conor McGregor stepped into the Octagon was in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier, a fight he lost after suffering a gruesome broken ankle.

Since then, speculation surrounding McGregor's long-awaited return has continued to build, only for setbacks or delays to repeatedly halt momentum.

McGregor was previously expected to fight Michael Chandler following their time as opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter” two years ago, but the matchup never materialized.

Now at 37 years old, questions about whether McGregor is finished fighting have continued to follow UFC President Dana White. During an appearance on “The Jim Rome Show” on Thursday, White sounded more confident than ever that McGregor's return is finally close.

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"No, we are in a good place. I am extremely confident that Conor will fight this year," White said. "Extremely confident we get him dialed in and ready to roll. There is footage of him in training right now."

"We haven't announced anything yet, but he will fight this summer. I thought it would happen last year, but it didn't. I'm extremely confident it will happen this summer. He seems confident, and he is training. Plus, many other great things are happening behind the scenes that make me confident he will fight this summer."

White did not disclose who McGregor could potentially face in his return fight. However, Chandler's name has consistently surfaced as a likely option

There are also several other intriguing matchups the UFC could explore for McGregor, but at this stage of his career, it's clear he has earned the ability to largely dictate the type of fight he wants if he officially returns to the Octagon.

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This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 6:43 PM.