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Ever since Conor McGregor got choked out by Khabib Nurmagamedov almost a year ago, the headlines surrounding the former featherweight and lightweight UFC champion have largely been negative.
Surrounded by lawsuits and seemingly constant controversy, McGregor can arguably be seen as more of a tabloid celebrity than an elite athlete these days. However, still just 31-years-old, McGregor is essentially in the prime of his career and remains the biggest star that UFC has to offer.
So, naturally, while McGregor himself has claimed he’s retired, both fans and UFC execs alike (such as Dana White himself) believe it’s only a matter of time until The Notorious makes his triumphant return to the Octagon.
Now, McGregor himself is teasing a return to the fight game, as he took to Instagram to congratulate his former rival and current frenemy Nate Diaz on his UFC 241 victory over Anthony Pettis while also claiming that he is “prepared for it when we go again”:
3 years to the day myself and this Mexican warrior went to war. Congrats on the win this weekend Nate, it was motivating to see it for my own comeback. I don’t blame you not mentioning me for the trilogy bout post fight, you know what I’m like when I get going. Vicious.
I loved the round 3 style from round 1 that you implemented. It’s what I was hoping you would implement for this bout and was glad to see you do it. I’ll be prepared for it when we go again. If we go again. If not, respect always. A war for the ages. No bitch talk. Just real shit.
While McGregor is unlikely to return to the Octagon this year, those within the fight game expect to The Notorious return to the UFC in 2020 to either take on Nate Diaz for a third time or Khabib Nurmagamedov for the second time.
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Eric Italiano is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Contact him: eric@brobible.com.