Conor McGregorappears to be taking his potential UFC return seriously.

McGregor has been teasing an imminent return to theOctagonfor years, but it has repeatedly failed to materialize, to the point where fan interest has started to fade. In fact, “The Notorious” was once scheduled to faceMichael Chandlerat UFC 303 in June 2024, only to withdraw ahead of the event due to a toe injury, further prolonging his long-awaited comeback.

Since last year, the former two-division UFC champion has shown a strong interest in competing on the White House card and even re-entered the anti-doping testing pool. However, UFC CEO Dana White repeatedly downplayed those plans, and it was ultimately confirmed thatMcGregor would not be returning on June 14when the UFC Freedom 250 lineup was announced.

But now, it appears Conor McGregor may finally have a return date in sight, as he ramps up his training with renewed intensity. The 37-year-old Irishman recently took toInstagramto share a series of photos from his latest sparring session.

What stood out even more was the fiery caption he paired with the post, seemingly firing back at doubters of his return — “Legs still sharper than aguillotine. Training with the young wolves, sharpening the blade. The return is coming whether they like it or not.”

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma)

During a recent episode ofThe Ariel Helwani Show, veteran MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported thatConor McGregor could make his returnagainst former rival Max Holloway at UFC 329, which is scheduled for July 11 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, slated to conclude the 2026 International Fight Week.

It appears we could be getting BSD x Paddy at UFC 329, alongside a Conor McGregor return, a Gable Steveson debut, Sandhagen x Bautista, and more.If everything goes according to plan, we’re looking at a tremendous IFW.And fair play to Paddy—you could make the case this is his…pic.twitter.com/OXoOfVoiyg

McGregor has been sidelined since suffering a broken leg in the opening round of his trilogy bout againstDustin Poirierat UFC 264 in July 2021. His last victory dates back to January 2020 at UFC 246, where he scored a rapid 40-second knockout overDonald Cerrone.

Meanwhile, “Blessed” was last seen in action at UFC 326, where he lost his BMF title to former lightweight championCharles Oliveiravia a lopsided unanimous decision. Prior to that setback, Holloway secured a win over Poirier atUFC 318in July 2025.

Source: LowKickMMA.com