Conor McGregor’s return to the cage has looked increasingly likely in recent weeks – and the Irish star has now revealed he has been offered the chance to train in a new season of The best fighter.
While nothing official has been announced, McGregor’s response to the offer was shared by none other than UFC president Dana White via his Instagram story.
McGregor got fans talking by posting a photo of himself in the TUF house on social media; he coached on the show against Urijah Faber in 2015.
“This is a photo from the original Ultimate Fighter house,” McGregor captioned the photo. “Where I coached against Urijah Faber. This photo was right before the show. It was right before I won my first world title, defeating Uriah’s teammate Chad Mendes. I then went on to train the famous fight show right after the fight. With a big black eye and a gash, my tricolor and my new and first UFC gold belt, I waltzed into the infamous Las Vegas fight hall.”
“The most elegant costumes and shouts the show has ever seen. On the silverware. And I coached my team to victory. crazy. Some journey. I have just been offered to train this role again. I like. Full immersion is required.”
“I see fighters lining up. I know what’s coming, I was ready, dammit,” McGregor concluded, adding the hashtag “#StayReady.”
McGregor last competed in July 2021, breaking his leg in his third fight with Dustin Poirier, bringing their trilogy to a premature end. “The Notorious” has been sidelined since then, rehabbing his leg, and raised eyebrows when news broke that he had been removed from the USADA testing panel.
USADA officials told Cageside Press late last year that the decision on whether McGregor would be exempt from six months of testing upon his return would be at the discretion of the UFC itself. Under the UFC’s anti-doping policy, fighters who retire or are otherwise removed from the testing pool and later return to action must pass clean tests for six months – but the promotion can waive that period and instead to require a minimum of two tests.
Outside of fights, McGregor is dealing with a lawsuit from former training partner Artem Lobov, over the Proper No. line. 12 Whiskey as well as assault charges.