Dana White has expressed strong confidence that Conor McGregor will make his long-awaited return to the UFC this summer, with the former champion targeting a July comeback. McGregor has not fought since 2021, when he suffered a broken leg in a second consecutive loss to Dustin Poirier. However, The Independent understands that negotiations are underway for a July bout, potentially headlining UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on 11 July.
White's Optimistic Update
UFC president and CEO Dana White provided a positive update, telling Jim Rome: 'We’re in a great place with Conor. I’m extremely confident that Conor will fight this year. I’m extremely confident that we’ll get him dialled in and ready to roll.' White noted that McGregor is training and there is footage of him in the gym. 'He’ll fight this summer. Let me just start there: he’ll fight this summer. I thought it would happen last year; it didn’t, [but] I’m extremely confident it will happen this summer.'
Behind-the-Scenes Progress
White added: 'He seems motivated, he’s training. There are a lot of other great things going on behind the scenes that make me very confident he’ll fight this summer.' McGregor had initially sought a spot on the UFC's unprecedented White House fight card on 14 June, but White was always coy about his involvement, and the Irishman ultimately missed out.
Potential Opponent and Legacy
It remains unclear whom McGregor would face at UFC 329, but he is expected to take on an active opponent with a strong profile. During his prime, McGregor became the first dual-weight champion in UFC history with stunning knockouts of Jose Aldo (in 13 seconds) and Eddie Alvarez. He also crossed over to boxing to face Floyd Mayweather, but since that stoppage loss in 2017, he has gone 1-3 in the UFC. His return to the promotion saw him submitted by Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018, followed by a 40-second win over Donald Cerrone in 2020 and two losses to Poirier in 2021.
Legal Issues
Outside the cage, McGregor has faced numerous legal challenges. In 2024, a civil jury found that he had sexually assaulted a woman in Dublin in 2018, though McGregor has consistently denied the allegations.
