Ahead of Conor McGregor’s UFC 296 Return Rumors on Dec 16, UFC VP Lays Down Plans for Having Events in UK and Ireland- “It’s Been a While…”

Will Conor McGregor be seen inside the Octagon in 2023? Right now, trying to answer that question is akin to answering a philosophical question such as – Does God exist? Different people have different beliefs, and yet nobody can be certain. However, a glimmer of hope sparked when Senior Vice President of UFC (International Operations and Content) Dave Shaw answered “Yes” to a pertinent question.

Shaw claims that talks are being held about potential events in the UK and Ireland. And that’s some exciting news for McGregor fans as there have been several rumors about him being a part of UFC 296 (Dec 16). Does Shaw’s new statement confirm the Irish star’s return?

Is UFC planning to return to Dublin, Ireland?

Dana White wasn’t available for the post-fight press conference in France. So senior vice president Dave Shaw took up the responsibilities. Seeing that the promotion is frequently hosting events internationally, a reporter asked Shaw if they considering a show in the UK and Ireland. He said, “Yes we are, we are.”

Dave Shaw mentioned that he had talked about hosting an event in the Irish capital a few months ago. The last time Conor McGregor fought in Dublin was in 2014. Additionally, the VP also mentioned that it has been some time since they had a UFC event in Glasgow as well.

“I mean, we talked about Dublin last time. It’s been a while since we’ve been to Glasgow,” said Dave Shaw. But what does this mean for Conor McGregor? While many fans are hoping this will play out in his favor, there’s no way of confirming it just yet.

Is Conor McGregor spreading rumors about himself?

When the Irish star missed the USADA deadline to enroll in their testing pool, his fans were left distraught. They lost all hope of seeing McGregor fight in 2023, as he needed to be in their testing pool for 6 months. As per the USADA UFC handbook, exceptions to the 6-month testing rule can be made in “exceptional circumstances.” Still, a minimum of two negative samples are required before returning.

However, the MMA athlete kept insisting he would be back this year. Recently, ‘The Notorious’ took to Twitter to share that he would return at UFC 296 against Michael Chandler.

Along with fans, even Sean O’Malley was excited. But UFC President Dana White set things straight. He said, “My team was telling me it was an AI. It wasn’t real. I mean, obviously, if that was the case – you would’ve heard it from us first. You would’ve gotten a report from me on Instagram.” The President still hasn’t given a definitive answer about Conor McGregor’s return and is waiting to see “how this plays out.”

READ MORE: “Then He Taps Like McGregor”- Ciryl Gane’s “Illegal Blows” in Viral Video Has Fans Up in Arms Against Ex-UFC Interim Champ

McGregor, on the other hand, has also been frustrated recently. Before announcing his UFC 296 comeback on Twitter, he was unhappy about the promotion not allowing him to fight in December. He shared a Twitter voice note where he was heard saying, “I’ve given everything. It doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.” Thus, his fans have been constantly subjected to uncertainty about his return.

Further, as per USADA’s official website, the last time ‘Mystic Mac’ was tested was in the third quarter of 2021. That was a long time ago. Do you believe the Irish star will return this year? Let us know in the comments below.

WATCH THIS STORY: Watch: Tony Ferguson claims to go on bear tracking only with his “blades”