Conor McGregor ‘To Defend UFC Lightweight Belt Against Tony Ferguson’

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After holding his own in the boxing ring with Floyd Mayweather this summer, The Notorious has finally announced his comeback gig.

Conor McGregor will not be swimming against Michael Phelps, or taking on his estranged sparring partner, Paulie Malignaggi in another novelty inter-disciplinary money-making scheme.

Nate Diaz isn’t even involved. Nope. UFC puppet master, Dana White, has some more logical plans for the Irish champion.

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This time, McGregor will be returning to his ultimate fighting roots and defending his title against newly-crowned king Tony Ferguson, who earned the strap by submitting Kevin Lee during Saturday night’s main event.

At the UFC 216 post-fight press conference, White said:

Tony’s the interim champion. Conor’s the champion. It’s the fight that makes sense. It’s the fight that has to happen. Doesn’t make sense. It’s the fight that has to happen.

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White continued to conclude McGregor is hoping to return to the Octagon before the year’s end.

The Irishman has been enjoying some well-deserved time out of training, after escaping to Ibiza with friends and family, as well as developing a self-confessed ‘wealth belly‘ and his own branded Notorious whiskey.

Meanwhile, a full trailer for the upcoming McGregor documentary has been released:

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But perhaps his eye has always been on defending his prize? And now his two-month health-related fight ban is lifted, maybe he’s ready to throw some kicks and punches?

It sounds like this fight could be happening sooner than expected.