Conor McGregor has demanded two fights next year after missing out on a clash with Michael Chandler.
The Irishman was due to fight Chandler this year but his return to the cage has been put back until the new year. Chandler will instead take on Charles Oliveira in a rematch at UFC 309 in New York in November.
McGregor has expressed his frustration at not being booked to fight having pulled out of his original date with Chandler when he broke a toe this summer. The former two-weight world champion has nought competed since he broke his leg in the first round of his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier three years ago.
"It will be 2025," he told DAZN when asked when he will be fighting next. "We will see. My opponent that I had scheduled... it is what it is. I take it on board and rock on. My job is to go to the gym and be in shape. Whenever it is and wherever it is. I will be 100 per cent ready. I must get two fights in 2025. It's the promised land. Who knows (who the next opponent will be). It does not matter. Whoever, let's see. I like it to be Chandler. I wish him well and see where it goes."
McGregor, who was ringside at Wembley to watch Anthony Joshua take on Daniel Dubois, also admitted he may not commit his future to the UFC after the final two fights of his contract. "I don't know. I don't think anyone knows. What happens afterwards, as I'm a free agent, I'm not sure," he added.
UFC CEO Dana White insists he had always expected McGregor to return next year. Asked this week if McGregor will fight again, he replied: “Yes. I wasn’t 100 per cent in 2024, but I am in 2025. I just am. I know more than you guys know. I’m 100 per cent confident McGregor will fight next year."
McGregor's last win in the UFC came in 2020 when he stopped Donald Cerrone inside 40 seconds. He then went on to lose to Poirier in their rematch before their third fight ended in the Dubliner being taken from the cage on a stretcher.
Few fans expect McGregor to recapture his glory days when he knocked out Jose Aldo in 13 seconds to become featherweight champion before going on to stop Eddie Alvarez to become the lightweight ruler.
