CONOR MCGREGOR has hinted that talks over a new deal with the UFC deal have temporarily been shelved.
The Irishman entered the business end of his contract with mixed martial arts premier promotion after his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
McGregor, 36, has TWO fights left on the lucrative contract he inked in the build-up to his grudge match with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Positive talks over a new deal with the UFC brass were held before the cancellation of his June joust with Michael Chandler.
But The Notorious has seemingly suggested they’ve been put on the back burner.
He recently told SunSport: “You know, the fight never happened. So it’s just about getting the fight on.”
Former two-division champion McGregor was due to face Chandler on June 29 in the main event of UFC 303 in Las Vegas.
A broken left pinky toe in one of his final sparring sessions before heading out to Sin City, however, scuppered the eagerly-anticipated Return of the Mac.
But the Dubliner insists it won’t be long before he’s fighting fit again.
“I’m good, very good,” he said before pointing to his injured foot. “I’m a [shoe] size up right now.
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“I’m back in running runners. I can run, I can box.
“These shoes a little bit tricky to get into – I just went up a size.
“But I’m good, my man. I’m well on my bike, I’m well on track.”
It’s understood Dana White and Co. are targeting December for McGregor’s return – a timeline the UFC’s poster boy likes.
When asked about potentially closing out the promotion’s pay-per-view calendar, he said: “That sounds good to me.
“That sounds good to me brother.”
UFC 310 – which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 7 – will bring the curtain down on the promotion’s 2024 pay-per-view schedule.
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.
And UFC President and CEO White hinted at an imminent fight announcement for McGregor earlier this week.
The 54-year-old said: “Conor news coming up, we’ve got Oliveira news coming up, we’ve got Chandler news coming up.
“All that good s**t. Coming soon.”
McGregor and Chandler were quick to add more fuel to the fire, with the former tweeting a winking emoji on his X account.
Former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Chandler, meanwhile, said: “I can’t wait until you see what we have cooking.”
