Conor McGregor sparks more fears over his future as he’s spotted shadow boxing in New York nightclub – despite claims he is ‘training’ for comeback
Conor McGregor was spotted shadowboxing and dancing in the VIP area of ββa New York nightclub this week amid doubts over his planned return to the UFC.
The Irishman, who has not fought since breaking his leg at UFC 264 more than three years ago, was seen at a party at the Marquee Nightclub early on Wednesday morning as his chances of a comeback dwindled.
It’s unclear whether he himself had been drinking, but McGregor appeared to be jumping around next to a table full of booze as he danced the night away in the Big Apple, just after 2am.
His wild antics come amid recent claims by UFC president Dana White that he has been ramping up his training regimen in New York in preparation for his long-awaited comeback.
After recovering from a broken leg, McGregor was set to return to face Michael Chandler after the two faced off as coaches on last year’s 31st edition of The Ultimate Fighter.
Conor McGregor (center) was spotted shadowboxing and dancing in the VIP section of a New York nightclub this week
But after finally setting June 29, 2024 as his comeback date, the 36-year-old was forced to withdraw from his showdown with Chandler in Las Vegas due to a broken toe.
Chandler has since left and arranged a fight against Charles Oliveira, leaving McGregor to find a new opponent if he does return in the near future.
White no longer expects this to happen in 2024, citing early 2025 as a more realistic date for his star player’s return.
βLet me tell you this: I was the one this year who said I don’t think he’s going to fight this year, amidst all the talk and everything,β he told The New York Post.
‘Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025.’
McGregor has only competed twice in nearly five years, with his last two fights ending in defeat to Dustin Poirier.
He was first brutally knocked out by Poirier in January 2021, before suffering a gruesome broken leg in their trilogy fight six months later.
The Irishman was seen early Wednesday morning at a party at the Marquee Nightclub
McGregor hasn’t fought in the UFC in over three years, and his comeback is looking increasingly unlikely
He was set to return against Michael Chandler this summer but would withdraw with an injury
Since then, the former UFC champion across two weight classes has been spotted partying regularly as his planned comeback continues to drag on.
Before his planned fight against Chandler was postponed, McGregor worried fans when he was spotted on a wild drinking binge six weeks before the bout.
There were rumors that he would not be ready in time for the match on June 29. That turned out to be true, as the match was postponed, although he indicated that he had a toe injury.
After Chandler booked a fight against Oliveira in November, McGregor posted on X: ‘Chandler saw that takedown get stopped and ripped and officially christened. Little Fat P***y.
I’m in the hard rock hotel in Florida for the bare knuckle [Fighting Championship] tonight. Tested earlier today by DFSI [Drug Free Sport International]Give me my f***ing date!’