SALT LAKE CITY – Tim Simpson says Conor McGregor’s newly inked movie role won’t impact his return to the UFC.
McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) has his first movie acting gig in the reboot of “Road House” alongside Academy Award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal. The film reportedly will shoot in the Dominican Republic.
The former UFC lightweight and featherweight champion has been healing from a leg break suffered in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Despite being scheduled to film a movie, McGregor still is expected to return in 2023, according to his manager, Simpson.
“It fits in perfectly,” Simpson told MMA Junkie at UFC 278 in Salt Lake City. “He’s still on track for a big return next year, but this fits in perfectly in the meantime.”
Simpson, senior vice president of MMA for Paradigm Sports, said McGregor already is in great shape, but is waiting for his leg to fully recover. McGregor had an intramedullary rod inserted in his tibia, as well as a small plate and screws to repair his fibula when he underwent surgery.
“The leg is still healing,” Simpson said. “I think there’s a little bit more to go on that, but he’s been training like a madman twice a day, every day. He’s got his full team out there: the McGregor Fast team, all his health and fitness guys, physio, boxing, coaching. He’s been going hard. He’s been training super hard. He’s in amazing shape – just final adjustments to get that leg back where it needs to be.”
