Conor McGregor will make UFC return, says manager Audie Attar

Conor McGregor’s manager says the mixed martial arts star will return to the UFC “no question”.

Since the Irish fighter made the move into boxing to fight Floyd Mayweather in August, there have been rumours that McGregor could return to the ring or even join WWE.

But manager Audie Attar told Sky Sports: “There are all these different things that pop up in the media - some true, some not true.

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“As it relates to mixed martial arts, I think Conor has been clear that he wants to come back and fight for the UFC. So there is no question that is going to happen.

“Who that is going to be and what is next is still to be determined. We are just starting to talk and explore all the options.

“But Conor is a draw. He does record-breaking gates and pay-per-views. At the end of the day, it does not matter what he does - whether it is WWE or the UFC - he is going to have a record-breaking event.”

McGregor has not fought in the UFC since he beat Eddie Alvarez to win the lightweight title at UFC 205 in November 2016.

But following Tony Ferguson’s victory over Kevin Lee at UFC 216 to claim the interim lightweight title on Saturday, UFC president Dana White insisted that McGregor vs. Ferguson is the fight that “has to happen”. White shot down rumours of McGregor facing Nate Diaz for a third time.

White told MMAFighting.com: “Nobody’s talked about Diaz. Diaz has never been talked about. That’s internet bullsh*t. Tony’s the interim champion, Conor’s the champion, that’s the fight that makes sense. It’s the fight that has to happen, it doesn’t ‘make sense’, it’s the fight that has to happen.”