Conor McGregor’s UFC return plans collapse AGAIN as new opponent shatters hopes of February fight
CONOR MCGREGOR’s latest plans for his long-awaited UFC return have seemingly gone up in smoke – AGAIN.
McGregor, 36 was due to make his cage comeback in June against Michael Chandler but was forced out of their Sin City showdown with a broken left pinky toe.
The Irishman exclusively revealed to SunSport in July that he’d pivoted to a December return, although UFC bigwig Dana White insisted last month that the promotion’s poster boy won’t be back until 2025.
McGregor claimed at the weekend that his rescheduled return would pit him against Dan Hooker in a Saudi Arabia showdown on February 1.
But fan favourite Hooker insists he WON’T be fighting the Dubliner in a Riyadh rumble due to his wife Helena expecting their second child.
‘The Hangman’ told Helen Yee: “I’m good to go in January or March.
“The missus is due [for a baby in] February, so no can go.
“I’ve got a little girl on the way.
“You’d even turn down a big fight with McGregor for [the birth of your child]. You’re not missing that. No panties are coming off in February.
“[McGregor’s] busy, he’s got money coming out of his ears – if I had that amount of money in the bank, you wouldn’t see me anywhere near a fistfight.”
McGregor’s showdown with Chandler is seemingly dead in the water following the former Bellator lightweight champion’s decision to rematch Charles Oliveira at UFC 309 next month.
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
Inside McGregor's Notorious lifestyle
With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor's rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
And even White is in the dark over who will be standing opposite Mystic Mac when he eventually returns.
He recently told Kevin Iole: “I have no idea [who he’ll fight].
“Like I said to Kevin today, you know, Conor will fight in 2025.
“So whoever is – however it plays out, as we lead up to him being ready, I have no clue.”
He added: “I said that Conor wasn’t fighting until 2025. It is October 1st of 2024.
“Conor McGregor has plenty of time … I’m gonna go with 2025. Yeah. 2025.”
When asked who will welcome him back to the cage, former two-division champion McGregor told DAZN last month: “We will see
“My opponent that I had scheduled… it is what it is. I take it on board and rock on.
“My job is to go to the gym and be in shape, whenever it is and wherever it is. I will be 100 per cent ready.”
McGregor, the UFC’s first-ever simultaneous two-weight champion, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.