2018 should signal the return of Conor McGregor to the Octagon and it should be fun.
The reigning UFC lightweight champion has not competed in MMA since he took the 155 lbs belt from Eddie Alvarez in November 2016.
There had been hope that he would return by the end of 2017 but UFC president Dana White is now looking at a summer 2018 comeback. The most likely option would be a title unification bout against interim champion Tony Ferguson but Khabib Nurmagomedov is back, fit, making weight and clocking up more wins.
The Dagestani fighter was completely and utterly dominant in his UFC 219 victory over Edson Barboza and, moments after his unanimous decision win, declared:
“Tony or Conor, don’t matter. Maybe they’re … maybe if the UFC approves, I can fight with these guys in the same night. I swear, no joke.”
“Maybe I have to stay humble, but tonight, I have to smash these guys and get these guys back, because these guys talk too much when I’m injured. Now, where are these guys?”
Ferguson already responded by saying he would happily clear out the division before stepping up to welterweight.
McGregor, well… you knew he would eventually bite.
‘The Notorious’ fired out this message to Nurmagomedov, his backers and the UFC.
That Dagestani was dog shit the other night you's are all nuts. Game full of sloppy bums asking to be slept. Pay me my worth and Kings back.
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 1, 2018
Put simply, McGregor has made a list and he is eager to return. He will step back into competitive action but, one suspects, he is still holding out for his demands of equity within the UFC and a cut of the co-promotional pie.
Pay me my worth and the king is back.
Truly truly truly get on your fucking knees and beg me. Otherwise I don't give a bollox.
My whiskey is out this year and thats Diddy bread.— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 1, 2018
While McGregor was at it, he also had a message for Floyd Mayweather Jr., who defeated him in the boxing ring last August.
Shin bone to the cheek bone. The rule set kept you out the funeral home. pic.twitter.com/chJ5ieUQvQ
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 1, 2018
We think that is just about all the boxes covered.
