Conor McGregor has confirmed that he will be returning to the octagon at welterweight when he makes his UFC comeback later this year.
The Irishman is recovering from a broken leg suffered last summer in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier, and has been angling for a bout with 170lb champion Kamaru Usman. He has been rehabbing the injury since July, and has recently returned to boxing training in Dublin.
And speaking with Mirror Fighting today in Dublin, the Irishman confirmed that he is planning to make his return to the octagon at welterweight. This is opposed to lightweight where he competed in four of his last five bouts, including winning the world title at UFC 205 back in 2016.
"Straight back into training," he said. "I'm looking forward to getting back into the octagon - we'll see what happens, the leg's getting better every day, I think 170 is where I'm aiming for, I feel good at this weight."
He also laughed off suggestions that he could settle his recent social media feud with Henry Cejudo in the octagon. He and Cejudo have been going back-and-forth on Twitter in recent days, but when asked by Mirror Fighting if the former flyweight and bantamweight champion was a possible future opponent, he mouthed the word "no" as he chuckled at the thought.
McGregor later told a fan he was "training hard" and "getting better day by day", as he left a court appearance at the Blanchardstown District Court in Dublin. He was appearing to face four charges following his arrest last month for alleged dangerous driving.
The case was adjourned until June 23, where he will face two charges of dangerous driving as well as for failure to produce a licence and driving without a licence and insurance.
McGregor is currently eyeing up a return in the second half of the year after a long spell of inactivity due to his injury. He has returned to training at the Crumlin Boxing Gym, and is expected to be fully sparring by the end of April.
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He has yet to name an opponent, although it's like that world champion Usman will be preoccupied by McGregor's Paradigm Sports stablemate Leon Edwards. UFC President Dana White has promised Edwards the next shot at welterweight gold, but has also refused to rule out a fight for McGregor.
The Irishman has already been world champion at featherweight and lightweight, and would make history if he were to win a third belt. But he would likely be a heavy underdog against Usman, who hasn't lost in the UFC and has looked unbeatable in recent fights.
Usman is also nursing an injury, his to the hand, but is expected back in the cage later this year. He also has refused to rule out a title fight for McGregor, who is 1-3 since his lightweight title win, branding the Irishman a "clout chaser".
