No, you are not mistaken. Conor McGregor has never fought in the middleweight division for the UFC.
Which is why many fans were left scratching their heads when “The Notorious One” wrote on X on Monday, “Very excited for the Newark, New Jersey @ufc card, with my 185lb @ufc title on the line!”
As every MMA fan with even a passing interest has seen since Conor McGregor last fought, he is if anything, heavier than he used to be, not lighter. If and when he finally returns to the octagon, he is expected to fight at 170 pounds. He has even made mention of possibly fighting at 185 pounds.
So, there seems to be very little chance that he will be taking on the winner of the Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland middleweight title fight at UFC 328 on May 9.
Conor McGregor sparring footage fails to impress fans
Meanwhile, while all of that was going on, Conor McGregor appeared in a video sparring with 44-year-old former UFC welterweight Dong Hyun Kim.
In the video, McGregor certainly looks intense and seems to be getting the best of Kim. However, considering both fighters’ ages, it has been over six years since Conor last fought in the UFC and almost nine years since Kim did, so many fans were left unimpressed by the display.
“Conor is DONE,” one viewer commented, according to Bloody Elbow. “All this performative s— will get him killed now. This ain’t 2016 UFC. Doesn’t matter who he fights. He’s going to lose badly.”
Of course, Conor McGregor has been saying he is going to return to fight with the UFC for years now. The latest date for his supposed return to the octagon is July 11 for International Fight Week in Las Vegas. His opponent has yet to be confirmed, but rumors mention Max Holloway. As always, we will believe it when we see it.