UFC Returns to Ireland in October, and Conor McGregor Wants In

UFC officials on Wednesday announced their intention to hold another card in Dublin, Ireland. 

And guess what? Conor McGregor is hoping to be the headliner.

The initial news came from UFC officials Wednesday afternoon (h/t Tristan Critchfield of Sherdog). According to the report, the event would take place October 24 at the 3Arena in Dublin. 

Thanks in large part to McGregor's explosion in popularity in Ireland and around the world, MMA has taken off in a big way lately on the Emerald Isle. In July 2014, the UFC staged a fight card in Ireland for the first time in five years.

The event was headlined by McGregor's bout with Diego Brandao. McGregor knocked out Brandao in just a shade over four minutes as a raucous crowd cheered him on. But perhaps even more noteworthy, tickets for the event sold out in mere minutes.

In a conference call with reporters Wednesday, McGregor, a Dublin native, said he hoped to be a part of the next Dublin card.

"You don’t have a show in my hometown and not have me on it," McGregor said on the call, which was attended by Bleacher Report. "Most certainly, I want to be on that card. We'll see which way it plays out.”

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

The UFC would have several options if they wanted to populate that card with hometown favorites. Middleweight Cathal Pendred, flyweight Paddy Holohan and women's strawweight Aisling Daly all are Dublin locals and train with McGregor at Dublin's SBG Ireland gym.

Dubliner Neil Seery is another possibility, as is Northern Ireland's Norman Parke.

Regardless, the UFC appears committed to strengthening its foothold in Ireland with its second show there in as many years after such an extended absence.

“Ireland has been such an important market to the UFC, and we couldn’t let a year go by without delivering another spectacular event for the fans in the capital,” said Joe Carr, the UFC's vice president, international, according to the Sherdog report. “We’re looking forward to showcasing both local and international talent at the event and hopefully getting the decibel counter higher this year round.”