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CON THE BACKBURNER

Dana White brutally SHOOTS DOWN Conor McGregor’s UFC return plans as MMA star ramps up training

The UFC bigwig hasn't minced his words
Conor McGregor and Dana White.

DANA WHITE insists Conor McGregor WON'T be fighting "anytime soon".

The Irishman was set to make his grand return to the octagon last June in a Sin City showdown with Michael Chandler before breaking his left pinky toe.

Conor McGregor holding his injured ankle after a UFC fight.
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Conor McGregor hasn't set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg nearly four years agoCredit: AP
Conor McGregor draped in an Irish flag before a UFC fight.
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The Irishman recently publicly pleaded with the UFC brass to start plotting his returnCredit: GETTY
Dana White and Conor McGregor at a UFC press conference.
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UFC supremo Dana White has shot down the prospect of 'The Notorious' making an imminent cage returnCredit: GETTY

McGregor has shown little interest in fighting over the last year, turning his attention to an ambitious run for political office in Ireland.

'The Notorious', however, has seemingly got the itch to compete again following a spate of fight announcements from UFC headhoncho White.

He wrote on X earlier this week: "Wow! Real exciting times again in the UFC."

The UFC's first simulatenous two-weight champion then wrote on Instagram: "@DanaWhite, @TKOGRP call that big butt nurse.

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"Let's get this show started, UFC."

McGregor's comments on a potential comeback were put to White by reporter Adam Glyn this week.

And the veteran promoter emphatically shut down talk of the promotion's poster boy setting foot inside the cage in the near future.

The 55-year-old said: "He's not fighting anytime soon. I haven't talked to him in a minute.

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"But yeah, I don't know when [he'll fight again]."

McGregor hasn't set foot inside the cage since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

Conor McGregor explains reason for major career changes amid UFC 'plateau' as MMA return remains a mystery

The Irishman has turned his hand to promoting during his octagon hiatus, acquiring shares in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.

In March, McGregor hinted that his fighting days might be over when he revealed he's content with his achievements.

But he performed an instant U-turn seconds after the admission, saying: "I hold every pay-per-view record in the book.

"I hold every gate record in the book.

"And my comeback will be slated as the greatest comeback or the biggest, most-anticipated comeback of all time.

He's not fighting anytime soon."

Dana White on Conor McGregor

"[But] right now Ireland is in my thoughts and that’s where I’m at.

"It will happen, I’m sure and it’s always great to be here and there you go.”

If McGregor does ever fight again, his next outing will be his first since being found civilly liable for assaulting Nikita Hand at a Dublin Hotel in December 2018.

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The former two-division champion appealed the verdict returned at Dublin's High Court last month.

He hopes the introduction of new evidence will overturn the result of the civil trial.

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