Conor McGregor's Next Fight Timeline Revealed by UFC's Dana White amid Comeback Rumors

UFC president Dana White expressed great confidence that mixed martial artist Conor McGregor could make his return to the Octagon this summer.

White made his remarks Thursday on The Jim Rome Show.

"I'm extremely confident it will happen this summer," he said.

McGregor was the first UFC fighter to hold two championships in two weight classes at the same time, serving as the promotion's featherweight and lightweight champion when he won the latter belt in Nov. 2016.

The 37-year-old hasn't fought since July 2021, when he suffered a broken lower tibia in a fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.

McGregor has a career record of 22 wins (19 by knockout) and six losses. He's only fought four times since 2016. The first bout was against Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight championship. He lost via fourth-round submission.

In Jan. 2020, McGregor defeated Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone in 40 second via TKO. One year later, he took on Poirier, who defeated McGregor by second-round TKO. The two faced each other again in a rematch six months later. McGregor suffered the aforementioned injury after rolling his left ankle while stepping back in the final seconds of the first round.

As far as when (and against whom), McGregor could fight, Damon Martin of MMA Fighting provided an idea.

"As talks have continued, McGregor has been touted as a possible headliner for UFC 329 on July 11 in Las Vegas as the culmination of International Fight Week 2026. Former UFC featherweight champion Max Holloway is a leading candidate to serve as his opponent, although nothing has been formalized just yet."

McGregor is already training, per White, so it really could only be a matter of time before he makes his return.