CONOR MCGREGOR plans to make up for lost time next year with “TEN” fights.
The Notorious was due to make his grand return to the octagon in June against Michael Chandler but was forced out of the Sin City showdown with a broken left pinky toe.
McGregor, 36, pivoted to a December dust-up in an exclusive interview with SunSport, although the UFC brass are eyeing a 2025 return for their poster boy.
And the Irishman wants to fight as much as possible next year, telling journalist Adam Glyn when asked how many outings he’ll have: “I don’t know – ten times!”
McGregor’s hopes for an end-of-year return were publicly dashed by UFC President and CEO Dana White earlier this month.
The 55-year-old told The New York Post: “Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025.
“He’s had so much time off. As far as the hunger, he’s a very wealthy guy.
“We’ll find out. We’ll find out when he comes back.
“But he is definitely one of the big superstars of the sport that elevated the UFC all throughout Europe and other parts of the world.
“He’s been a big star and a great partner for us.”
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With more sides to his personality than an Octagon, Conor McGregor's rise has been an enthralling watch.
Going from UFC icon to entrepreneur and Hollywood star, the Irishman has transcended the sport he helped bring to the masses.
He has four children with fiancee Dee Devlin and the family enjoy a lavish lifestyle.
McGregor has not fought in UFC since breaking his leg in a trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in 2021.
That has not stopped him amassing a net worth of over £150m thanks to his Proper No Twelve whiskey and fashion line.
And he is due to return to the Octagon at UFC 303 in an eagerly-awaited headline clash with Michael Chandler.
McGregor also starred alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in the Amazon Prime remake of classic movie Road House, although he is dreading his mum seeing one X-rated scene.
Notorious turned up to the premiere in a £60,000 suit that was outdone by his £460k watch.
The only thing sharper than his fashion sense is his tongue and the Dubliner has several bitter spats under his belt, including with UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov.
That row led to one of his biggest controversies in 2018 as he travelled 3,000 miles to confront Khabib in a vicious attack on his bus.
He pleaded guilty to assault after punching a man in a pub in 2018 and had his £150k Bentley seized by police for driving offences four years later.
Joe Rogan lashed out at McGregor in a four-letter outburst and the Irishman has also fired shots at Jake Paul, KSI and Tommy Fury.
Boxing great Floyd Mayweather also has McGregor on his enemy list after the pair clashed in a cross-sport bout in 2017.
Read all of our latest Conor McGregor stories.
McGregor, however, seemingly hasn’t given up hope of his long-overdue showdown with Chandler taking place before year’s end.
The UFC’s first simultaneous two-division champ shared fresh sparring footage with his 46 million Instagram followers this week in an apparent bid to prove he’s ready to return.
His accompanying caption for the series of clips, in which he nearly stopped his training partner, read: “First spar back, off we go.”
McGregor and the UFC brass were locked in positive talks over a new deal contract before the cancellation of his summer showdown with Chandler.
But the Dubliner, who has two fights left on his current contract, recently suggested that negotiations have been shelved.
The former feather and lightweight champion told SunSport: “You know, the fight never happened.
“So it’s just about getting the fight on.”
Fan favourite McGregor hasn’t graced the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier three years ago.
