Conor McGregor has been away from the Octagon for almost three years due to various hurdles. From toe injuries to civil lawsuits, his tirade of problems hasn’t stopped, and now he has some uncanny news for us.

The former dual-weight champion just revealed information that we might not have expected at all. After not fighting Michael Chandler at UFC 303, it was speculated that ’The Notorious’ might return against Ilia Topuria. But the 36-year-old just decided to drop a huge bomb on X about fighting Logan Paul in India. Yes, you heard that right.

He wrote the following on X, “The rumors of a bout with [Topuria] are false. I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon.”

McGregor’s last fight in 2021 against Dustin Poirier ended brutally as he broke his tibia in the process. Understandably, ‘The Notorious’ had to take time out from the sport. Since then, however, he’s done everything except fighting; starring in a Hollywood movie, and even becoming part owner of BKFC. To his credit, he did get back to training for his bout against Chandler at UFC 303 but pulled out due to a pinky toe injury.

All seemed on par for McGregor to make his UFC return in 2025 but now after losing $257,000 in a civil lawsuit, his journey back to some of the toughest fights in the Octagon seems even more murky. Instead, we’re getting an influencer boxing fight against Logan Paul, in India of all places.

Why is Conor McGregor fighting Logan Paul, instead of making his UFC return?

McGregor has been out of action from UFC’s Octagon for a long time now, given that he has two fights left on his contract and a whole list of possible opponents waiting to welcome him back. ‘The Notorious’ was scheduled to make his much-awaited return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303, but pulled out due to a pinky toe injury. Why, then, is he suddenly pursuing a fight against Logan Paul? We have a few reasons as to why we think he’s making this move. Let’s jump right in.

Firstly this fight against Logan Paul has the potential to make a lot of money, and right now McGregor needs the funds. He has been losing out on a lot of business ventures because of the high-profile civil lawsuit case he lost to Nikita Hand. Major companies have dropped his name from their business; the first being Proximo Spirits, the owner of the Irish whiskey brand Proper No 12 that McGregor founded. They will no longer associate the Irishman with the brand. “Going forward, we do not plan to use Mr McGregor’s name and likeness in the marketing of the brand,” the company explained to the Irish Independent newspaper.

Along with that, Danish video game developer IO Interactive also ended its collaboration with McGregor, who featured as ‘The Disruptor’ in the hit videogame ‘Hitman’. “In light of the recent court ruling regarding Conor McGregor, IO Interactive has decided to cease its collaboration with the athlete, effective immediately,” the company stated in a message on X.

Other than that, McGregor has been out of action in UFC for almost three years and, since then, a lot has changed in the promotion. The level of competition is top-notch right now and both newbies and veterans in the lightweight or welterweight divisions are not easy opponents. Fighters like Islam Makahchev, Dustin Poirier, Leon Edwards, and Belal Muhammad are reigning in these divisions right now, so the fight won’t be easy. 

On the other hand, fighting Logan Paul would be easier compared to facing UFC fighters, and would guarantee him a fat paycheck. Finally, ‘The Notorious’ loves to stay in the limelight, and this unique fight would make him the first UFC fighter to have a combat sports bout in the country of India, adding a new accolade to his list of accomplishments. 

What do you think of Conor McGregor’s potential exhibition bout against Logan Paul in India? Do you think it raises his stock or drops it, particularly since he once fought Floyd Mayweather in a pro boxing bout? Let us know in the comments down below.