Former two-division champion Conor McGregor appears to already be working towards a return to the Octagon after his planned return at UFC 303 next weekend was cancelled, claiming he already has a “new date” in mind for his return to combat sports.
McGregor, a former undefeated lightweight and featherweight champion, has been out for three years since suffering a broken left tibia and fibula in a first-round knockout loss to former interim champion Dustin Poirier.
Dublin striker McGregor, who is due to return at UFC 303 during International Fight Week next weekend, confirmed he was forced to withdraw from his welterweight bout with lightweight contender Michael Chandler because of a broken toe in his left foot.
After receiving ferocious criticism from the likes of featherweight champion Ilia Topuria and lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, McGregor took to the Bellator MMA cage in his hometown of Dublin tonight after backing his close friend and teammate Sinead Kavanagh into his corner.
Conor McGregor gives update on return date
And after the featherweight contender lost via guillotine choke to Arlene Blencowe, McGregor detailed his injury and plotted a future return to the UFC.
“Look, I'm still locked in here,” Conor McGregor told Dan Hardy. “I lost my focus a little bit and had to reschedule the fight, so it's a little frustrating, but it helps me stay focused. I can't lock in like I'm out there, doing my job. The job's not done yet, so it's not too bad for a guy like me.”
“We are moving forward with the new date, lessons learned, it was a lack of focus,” Conor McGregor continued. “If I was some other weakling who couldn't move, had no footwork, didn't rely on skill… I would have been fine. And I've done that before. I've come out on top in those situations so many times, giving them an undeserved advantage.”
