UFC president Dana White has made it clear that Conor McGregor will be stepping back into the Octagon before the year is out, with talks already underway for a fight against Michael Chandler. The Irishman has been out of action since suffering a devastating leg injury in his third fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July of this year. However, McGregor is now said to be eager to make a comeback, and an official announcement is expected soon during the airing of The Ultimate Fighter.

Without question, McGregor is the biggest star in mixed martial arts, and fans around the world have eagerly been awaiting news of his return. It has now been confirmed that he will be taking on Chandler, who he previously coached against on The Ultimate Fighter. White has stated that McGregor must first re-enroll with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), which he left during his recovery, before he can compete. Once he does re-enter the program, he will need to stay there for at least half a year, unless the UFC chooses to grant him an exception.

An announcement during the airing of The Ultimate Fighter is expected to confirm McGregor’s return and provide further details about the upcoming fight. White has stated that the UFC is targeting a date in late November or December, which would put McGregor back in the ring in plenty of time for the big end-of-year events. There is much anticipation for his return, and fans will no doubt be looking forward to seeing him back in action soon.