The Irish sports star claims he’s gone through two training camps already while waiting for UFC to lock-in his return fight with a solid date, and the constant delays are messing with his motivation.

Conor McGregor is currently out on the road promoting his new movie, Road House, which premieres March 21, 2024, on Prime Video (maybe?). That doesn’t mean he’s forgotten about cage fighting.

During a United Kingdom premiere of the movie at The Curzon Mayfair, McGregor took some time from gabbing about famous co-star, Jake Gyllenhaal, and his debut acting experience to discuss his frustrations with the lack of movement in his mixed martial arts (MMA) career.

A lack of movement he continues to blame solely on UFC.

“I’m wrapping up this tour, I’ve got the St. Paddy’s Day festivities coming up, and then I’m going to get back and regroup,” he told The Mac Life. “I’m going to test myself physical-wise on the treadmill and go about the McGregor Fast way and get myself right back.”

There’s something really odd going on between McGregor and UFC right now, with Dana White refusing to give a straight answer on the reason(s) “The Notorious” hasn’t been booked yet. At one point, McGregor was “too rich.” Who knew if he’d ever bother coming back to UFC?

In another deflection, White claimed McGregor wasn’t in training camp so the promotion couldn’t offer him something.

“I had a camp in Cannes, the South of France, I had a camp in Dubai where I had world champions training with me where I was hoping for a December date, then a January date,” McGregor countered. “Then it keeps getting pushed back, then I lose interest and stop full-training for awhile. Not stop training, I will always train, but stop full training and drinking a little back. I’m going to go back and regroup.”

McGregor currently has two fights left on his UFC deal and you better believe the promotion wants him to re-sign before he fights his way to free agency. But, slow-playing him on his return bout may just be the wedge that finally pushes Mac to re-think his relationship with the promotion.

In a press junket interview with BackstageOL, McGregor — who is expected to face opposing The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 31 coach, Michael Chandler, upon his return — re-iterated his desire to fight at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024.

“I’m hoping to get in [June],” he said. “You can tell your man Hunter [Campbell] that he needs to get in there and get the ball rolling. I’ve got this workload here — lot of press, lot of partying. After that I’m in fight camp, I’ve got my team here and we’re ready to go. So hopefully June 29th please, and we get going.”

Bring him back — whatever the cost.

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Author: Staff

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