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Conor McGregor has seemingly responded to Dana White's recent comments about him not fighting this year, though not with words. UFC President Dana White announced that McGregor wouldn't make his much-anticipated return to the octagon in 2024, casting doubt on the fighter's comeback timeline.
Originally, McGregor was set to face Michael Chandler in June, but an injury forced him to withdraw from the fight. Despite this setback, McGregor had expressed optimism over the summer that he would be ready to fight by December.
"Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025," White told the New York Post.
"He's had so much time off. As far as the hunger, he's a very wealthy guy. We'll find out. We'll find out when he comes back.
"But he is definitely one of the big superstars of the sport that elevated the UFC all throughout Europe and other parts of the world.
"He's been a big star and a great partner for us."
McGregor sends message through social media post
While McGregor hasn't directly addressed White's announcement, he sent a strong message by sharing new footage of himself sparring, suggesting he's gearing up for his return.
Early Thursday morning, McGregor posted clips to Instagram, showing him back in action during a sparring session, captioning the post with, "First spar back, off we go."
McGregor's social media post comes at a time when many are eager to see him back in the octagon, following more than three years of inactivity after suffering a broken leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.
Before his injury and the subsequent fight cancellation, McGregor had been in discussions with the UFC over a substantial new contract. However, he hinted in an interview with SunSport that negotiations have slowed since the summer, saying, "You know, the fight never happened," referring to the cancelled bout with Chandler.