Dana White Confirms Conor McGregor’s 2024 Absence; McGregor Insists on December Return

UFC President Dana White has officially announced that Conor McGregor will not be making a return to the octagon this year.

Initially slated to make his comeback at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler, McGregor, who suffered a severe leg injury at UFC 264, will now face a delay. The highly anticipated bout, which would have featured the two fighters as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, was set to be a major event of 2024. However, McGregor was forced to withdraw due to a toe injury, and now it appears that his return to competition will be delayed until 2025.

During a media scrum for the Contender Series, White addressed McGregor’s situation, revealing that while the former two-division champion is eager to fight again, it won’t happen this year. “We talked, We talked,” White said. “We didn’t meet up but we talked, and yeah, he wants to fight. So we’ll figure it out. But not this year. He won’t fight this year.”

White’s statement contradicts McGregor’s previous assertions about his return. The Irish fighter repeatedly suggested that his recovery would not keep him out of action for long, announcing various return dates throughout 2023 and early 2024. However, White dismissed those plans.

This latest development leaves Chandler in a challenging position, as he has been on hiatus since 2022, awaiting McGregor’s return.

UPDATE: Conor McGregor Responds

McGregor did not take long to address the news. In a defiant statement, he declared, “Ah Dana, December is the date! Bring the calendar year home with a winning event! Come on now, what’s this? I am off to altitude next month to prepare. DECEMBER! Tell Dana and UFC WE WANT DECEMBER! WE DESERVE DECEMBER!”

McGregor’s insistence on a December return reflects his determination to return to the octagon sooner than White’s announcement would suggest. The situation continues to evolve as fans and fighters alike await further updates on Mc-Gregor’s comeback.