Conor McGregor just confirmed he is officially returning to the Octagon this July, and he’s starting with a rival he’s avoided for six years

After a long break, Conor McGregor is reportedly looking to make a comeback in combat sports. There have been a lot of speculations about his comeback lately, but now Dana White, who didn’t sugarcoat the war with Iran, may have spilt the beans about his possible opponent. Jorge Masvidal has also dropped hints that he could be McGregor’s opponent, as he is being brought back for a specific reason.​

As reported by MMA Mania, Conor McGregor has announced on Instagram that he is returning to the cage to fight again. In his post, he asked Irish fans to put their money on him, as he is not going to let them down. McGregor’s post came five days after the end of his suspension for drug testing.​

In his Instagram post, he wrote, “Mr. Confidence returns to save fighting again! Call your grandma! Nanny we did it! Watch and pay me. F*** you pay me. You fat Irish pr**** you don’t have my money I put your brain to sleep. See ya’s in the Casinos after, the Mac loves yas all, I got love for yas all, it’s an honor, it’s light work it’s easy”. He continued his confident statement, writing in capital letters with extra enthusiasm that he would still be a recipe for combat sports like the UFC, bringing huge money to the game.

Conor McGregor is set for a potential showdown with Jorge Masvidal, who is eyeing a comeback since his last fight in 2023

There has been a lot of speculation about who would face Conor in the cage, but reports hint that it would be Jorge Masvidal. According to SportsBible, McGregor could have drawn against Justin Gaethji, Jorge Masvidal, or Max Holloway. With Michael Chandler to fight the White House Card, he is not likely to face Conor. On the other hand, Max Holloway has shown interest in fighting Conor, but there’s no report confirming the showdown yet.

Jorge, on the other hand, seems like a feasible option, as both fighters have been out of the game, and with their combined fanbase, this fight could be a huge success, as UFC has been looking for a competition like this for a while. Since the start of 2026, the organization has not delivered a blockbuster fight, so this could be a turning point for the UFC this year.​

Claims of a McGregor-Ian Garry bout in Dublin have faded, with Dana White clarifying it’s unlikely. Garry recently beat Belal Muhammad and wants action, but White isn’t rushing him into a McGregor fight. Ultimately, all eyes remain on White, whose final call will shape UFC’s momentum amid a quiet start to 2026.