The Notorious promises to ‘slice through’ UFC comeback opponent following injury layoff but Dana White unsure when Irish star will return after body transformation

Conor McGregor is marking ten years as a UFC fighter in 2023 but it’s been 18 months since fans have seen the Irishman in the Octagon.

The Notorious has been out of action since fracturing his tibia and fibula during his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.

The extended absence from the sport is now McGregor’s second longest period without an MMA bout following the near-two-year gap he took for a crossover boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.

The 34-year-old is expected to finally return to the UFC this year but when will the two-division champion step back inside the Octagon?

Conor McGregor next fight: Date

As of yet, there has been no official confirmation about when The Notorious could have his next bout in the UFC.

Speaking in December, UFC president Dana White admitted he is unsure when his star attraction could be back after denying McGregor is on a collision course with Michael Chandler.

White said: “I never said that.

“This is what happens when you do interviews and people listen to your interviews.

“They said, ‘So, if Conor McGregor came back right now, who would you be looking at as an opponent?’

“I said, ‘Well, if he did, if that happened, and that scenario played out right now, Chandler would be a fun fight.’

“Never f***ing once did I say Conor McGregor vs Chandler.

“I don’t even know when Conor McGregor’s coming back. And this is why I don’t like to answer these kinds of questions.

“Because some f***ing idiot somewhere on the internet puts out that that’s what I said, and it’s not even remotely close to what I said.”

During his recovery period from his injury, McGregor has seriously bulked up but has not been drug tested by United States Anti-Doping.

USADA want McGregor to undergo six months of drug tests before he fights again, however, ‘Mystic Mac’ has predicted he will submit two samples in February before booking a comeback opponent.

Conor McGregor next fight: Potential opponent

McGregor has announced his intention to compete in the welterweight division moving forward following his body transformation.

That would eventually see the Crumlin-born star have to dethrone Leon Edwards if he hopes to become the first three-weight champion in UFC history.

However, he must first get by top ranked contenders such as Kamaru Usman, Khamzat Chimaev, Colby Covington and Jorge Masvidal to earn a title shot.

Should McGregor return at lightweight instead then a potential fourth bout with Poirier would be a major talking point.

Chandler has also been calling for a fight with McGregor and has even expressed his willingness to jump up to welterweight to make the scrap happen.

McGregor tweeted this month: “I’m going to slice through someone on return. Trust that. And I don’t care who. Line up.”

Conor McGregor next fight: What has been said?

McGregor revealed his plan to make a UFC comeback back in October.

He said: “I’m going to be back soon, hopefully.

“Early 2023 I’m aiming for. Sometime in that first quarter. That will give me a good couple of months [to prepare].

“Once I wrap this [filming Road House] up in a couple of days, get the camp going [for] a good couple of months. And get going.”