Dana White confirms Conor McGregor’s comeback plans after the UFC star prepares for next fight’s dramatic body transformation

UFC bigwig Dana White has confirmed Conor McGregor “definitely” wants to return to the cage next year.

The MMA superstar has been on the sidelines for the past 16 months after sustaining a horrific leg fracture in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.

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McGregor, 34, is in the final stages of his return to fight fitness and seems eager to get back into the octagon – regularly posting workout footage on his social media channels.

White said of The Notorious last week: “He’s been posting videos of himself working out and has just finished filming a movie.

“He definitely wants to come back next year.”

White’s comments came after McGregor – who has undergone a dramatic body transformation in recent months – declared himself “back” when he posted a video of himself grappling.

He said: “S*** hot everywhere. The real GOAT [Greatest of All Time]. There’s no place I’m not great at.

“Some of your GOATS can’t even kick. See how my wrist works here.

“At some points you can see that my opponent has the illusion of controlling my wrist, but I use that stupidity to open doors with it. I open the door to go straight into the full mountain.

“Then later I open the door right on the chest so my knee lands flush. It uses the opponent’s control of your wrist as leverage.

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“Watch and see what you can see. Leave a comment and tag your buddy the Mac is back with another lesson on defense and offense.”

Former two-division champion McGregor is targeting a return to action early next year, although he needs to be in USADA’s testing pool for six months before he can return – unless he gets an exemption from the UFC Breams.

Ireland’s first and only UFC champion said late last month: “Hopefully I’ll be back soon.

“I am aiming for early 2023. Sometime in this first quarter.

“That will give me a good couple of months [to prepare].

“As soon as I finish this [filming Road House] get the camp going in a few days [for] a good few months. And let’s go.”