Conor McGregor announces UFC return for January and wants future bouts with Nate Diaz and Khabib Nurmagomedov
Conor McGregor has confirmed he will make his long-awaited return to the UFC on January 18 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The 31-year-old former two-weight champion had previously appeared to hint in a cryptic tweet his comeback would be for December 14 in Dublin, Ireland.
But, speaking in Russia - home to his rival Khabib Nurmagomedov - said 2020 was when fans will see him strut into the octagon again.
McGregor has had a controversy-laden 2019, not fighting since his defeat to Nurmagomedov a year earlier, and has also hinted at retirement for the second time.
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He was arrested in Miami after he appeared to snatch a fan’s phone who was taking photos of him and he proceeded to smash it on the ground.
Then in April, he was caught on camera punching an elderly gentleman, who refused a drink of his Proper Whiskey.
Asked who he will fight next, the Irishman gave a typical response.
"Ask the UFC, because I do not give a f***." he said.
McGregor, who has 21 wins and four defeats from 25 fights, then said he planned on going after former foes Nate Diaz and Nurmagomedov.
"I will then look to compete against the winner of the Nate Diaz-Jorge Masvidal for the Bad Motherf***er title.
"Obviously I have history with Nate Diaz and we are set to make the trilogy bout. I feel Nate will get the better of that one.
"Then I will seek the Moscow bout. It will be against the winner of Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov.
"We want this bout in Moscow. The people in Russia deserve this bout to take place. The people of the world deserve this bout to take place.
"There is an inevitable rematch, it is a rematch that I will come in sharp, fresh. I will have no injuries, I will have no alcohol, I will have no outside influences, I will be fully focused, exactly what the people deserve. And we will settle it once and for all."
ESPN’s Ariel Helwani tweeted that while an opponent is yet to be named for McGregor, UFC veteran Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone is reported to be top of the list, while Justin Gaethje is another possibility.
"I want to f*** him up. Far as I know, he's retired. He's in the rankings, so he either fights or he gets out.
"I absolutely would love to fight him," Gaethje said.