Conor McGregor, the UFC superstar, has disclosed a significant stride forward in his recuperation from his severe leg injury at UFC 264.
McGregor is set to return to the UFC later this year after suffering an injury during his trilogy with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. He’s documented most of his recuperation process on social media, but just with minimal drills and workouts.
McGregor took a huge stride toward being 100 percent prepared for the demands in the Octagon just months before his scheduled 2022 debut.
In a recent Instagram post, he announced that he has resumed sparring in preparation for his much awaited Octagon return.
McGregor is aiming to get back on track after losing back-to-back fights to Poirier in 2021. He allegedly came near to agreeing to a boxing bout against former world champion Manny Pacquiao before his planned fight against Poirier at UFC 257, but discussions fell through.
McGregor has gained significant muscle mass since his recovery and hopes to return to the Octagon at 170 pounds, which he believes is his new ideal weight.
The former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion has not yet obtained medical clearance to fight, but he hopes to return to the octagon by the summer.
He has requested a welterweight title bout against UFC men’s pound-for-pound champion Kamaru Usman.
“I believe myself vs. Usman for the 170-pound title for my comeback fight is the one I’m eyeballing at the minute.”
When will Conor McGregor return to action?
McGregor plans to return to the Octagon as soon as this summer, possibly against welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, as previously stated.
Dana White, however, recently told The Sun that he believes McGregor will not return to the ring until at least the autumn.
“We’re looking at early fall, if everything goes right,” White said.
“If [McGregor’s] leg heals right and he gets the clearance to really start training, then possibly early fall.”
Joe Rogan has also cautioned McGregor against returning to the Octagon too soon, especially if it means facing current welterweight champion Usman.
Usman successfully defended his welterweight title by defeating Colby Covington in a unanimous decision last November at UFC 268.
“Now he’s talking about fighting [Kamaru] Usman, but be careful what you ask for,” Rogan said on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast.
“Usman is a big man, and he’s top of the food chain right now.”
What unfolds at the end, only time will tell!
