Conor McGregor set for two fights in the UFC

UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor (Image Courtest: McGregor twitter handle)

Bengaluru, February 28: UFC lightweight champion Conor McGregor is in negotiations with the promotion's top chiefs to return to the octagon, according to Dave Meltzer of MMA Fighting.

The Irishman McGregor hasn't fought in the UFC since November 2016 when he won the lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez in the main event of UFC 205.

After he dethroned Alvarez to become the UFC's first simultaneous two-weight world champion, the 29-year-old immediately demanded his employers for a new contract.

pic.twitter.com/dslzYykEoX
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) December 21, 2017

McGregor, who was last involved in a big money boxing match in August with Floyd Mayweather has been locked in negotiations with the UFC brass for several months now.

Earlier this week, Meltzer revealed that talks between McGregor and his employers are progressing well and that we could see the Irishman fight twice this year.

"The word is that negotiations with Conor McGregor are going well," he wrote in his subscription-only newsletter.

"No deal to return has been inked but they are said to be not so far apart and are in talks about him doing two fights in 2018."

He added: "All the pub right now is Mayweather under MMA rules but I can't see Mayweather agreeing to that, even though it's huge money.

"The UFC fight idea is the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov."

After reports of his title being stripped emerged, the Irishman publicly declared that he doesn't plan on hanging up his gloves anytime soon.

I am fighting again. Period. I am the best at this. I put my name forward to step in at UFC 222 to face Frankie Edgar when Max Holloway pulled out, but I was told there wasn't enough time to generate the money that the UFC would need. I was excited about bouncing in last minute and taking out the final featherweight, without all the rest of the stuff that comes with this game. Please respect the insane amount of work outside the fight game that I have put in. On top of the fighting. I am here. It is on them to come and get me. Because I am here. Yours sincerely, The Champ Champ™

A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Feb 22, 2018 at 11:58am PST

"I am fighting again. Period," McGregor wrote, via Instagram. "I am the best at this.

"I put my name forward to step in at UFC 222 to face Frankie Edgar when Max Holloway pulled out, but I was told there wasn't enough time to generate the money that the UFC would need.

"I was excited about bouncing in last minute and taking out the final featherweight, without all the rest of the stuff that comes with this game.

"Please respect the insane amount of work outside the fight game that I have put in."

If he returns to the octagon, his first fight is expected to see him in action against the winner of Tony Ferguson vs Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The UFC 223 main event Ferguson vs Nurmagomedov takes place at the Barclays Center in New York on April 7.

The second fight is still unclear, but many believe it could either be a rematch with Mayweather under MMA rules or a triology completing fight with Nate Diaz.