Conor McGregor to Make UFC Return on January 18; Opponent Not Yet Confirmed

Conor McGregor has confirmed he will return to fight in the UFC on January 18, 2020.

McGregor held a press conference in Moscow on Thursday, noting he will be back in action at the start of next year. He was last in the Octagon in October 2018, when Khabib Nurmagomedov beat him via submission.

Ariel Helwani of ESPN provided more details regarding McGregor's comeback and noted Donald Cerrone is the man most likely to face the Notorious at this stage:

Here is more of what McGregor had to say: 

Will Griffee of the MailOnline observed McGregor was in his typically bullish mood as he addressed the media.

The Irishman said he "does not give a f--k" who he fights in January and said he expects to "go through the entire [UFC] roster like a chainsaw through butter."

McGregor's last outing was an ill-tempered one. Prior to the showdown with Nurmagomedov, both camps exchanged strong words, and McGregor made racist comments about his opponent in press conferences and on social media. 

After McGregor submitted to his opponent in Round 4, a mass brawl erupted inside the Octagon between the entourages of both fighters, resulting in a suspension for each.

The animosity between the pair was already apparent before their meeting at UFC 229. After a media day for UFC 223, in which Nurmagomedov was set to fight Al Iaquinta, McGregor threw a metal dolly at a bus carrying Nurmagomedov and other UFC fighters, smashing a window and injuring passengers. A warrant was issued for McGregor's arrest, and he later surrendered himself to police. He was charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief. 

McGregor said he expects the rematch with Nurmagomedov to happen further down the line.

"It will happen," said the former featherweight and lightweight champion. "I am not waiting around for that man, he is a known pull-out. You can run but you cannot hide. He ran out of the press conference in Moscow last week. It is in his nature. Trust me, I am coming for him. Where is he now in this country? I fly in, he flies out. Typical."

Nurmagomedov was most recently in action against Dustin Poirier, and he extended his perfect 28-fight record with another submission win in September.

According to Helwani, McGregor wants three fights in 2020, culminating with another possible showdown with the champion:

McGregor is one of the biggest names in MMA and made UFC history earlier in his career when he became the first fighter to simultaneously hold titles in two different weight classes.

Away from the Octagon, McGregor is being investigated in connection to two sexual assault allegations in Ireland, according to the New York Times (h/t USA Today). McGregor has denied the allegations.

He also appeared in court in October to face assault charges after video footage emerged of him punching a man in a Dublin pub. The 31-year-old has since apologised for his behaviour.