Conor McGregor reveals when he's targeting return after Khabib loss, fans will be pleased
CONOR MCGREGOR is eager to get back inside the Octagon as soon as possible.
McGregor made his long-awaited return to the cage earlier this month in the main event of UFC 229, where he took on Khabib Nurmagomedov.
‘The Notorious’ suffered a fourth-round submission defeat to his successor at the summit of the lightweight division, who handed him his fourth professional loss via a brutal neck crank.
McGregor took a near two-year hiatus from the cage following his historic UFC 205 victory over Eddie Alvarez, which saw him become the promotion’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
But the Irishman doesn’t plan on having another lengthy lay-off this time around.
“I’m looking to get back in, of course," McGregor said during a recent appearance in Boston. "We’ll see what happens.
“Obviously, there is stuff with the Nevada Athletic Commission.
“So they’ll make a judgement on that and we’ll go from there.”
McGregor is hoping to have a rematch with the undefeated Nurmagomedov but is willing to face whoever the UFC brass offer him next.
I’m looking to get back in, of course
"If it is not the rematch right away, no problem," he said in a lengthy Instagram post reflecting on his latest setback. I will face the next in line.
"It’s all me always, anyway. See you soon my fighting fans I love you all."
Nurmagomedov vs McGregor II would undoubtedly be another huge multi-million-pound bout for the UFC.
However, the promotion’s president, Dana White, believes former interim lightweight king Tony Ferguson deserves the next crack at 'The Eagle', who he’s been slated to fight a staggering five times.
“As a fight fan, you’ve gotta go with Tony,” White told ESPN's Brett Okamoto.
“Tony had the belt, tweaked his knee, got stripped, (McGregor vs. Nurmagomedov) happens.
"Tony never lost the belt in a fight.
“Neither did Conor, but Conor actually got the opportunity to fight for the belt. I think Tony deserves the next shot."