Dana White reveals who Conor McGregor could fight on UFC return

"It makes a lot of sense right now.”

Dana White revealed the opponent that "makes a lot of sense" for Conor McGregor to face in his return to the octagon ahead of UFC 275. The Dubliner sustained a broken leg in the first round of his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier last July at UFC 264.

Dana White reveals who Conor McGregor could fight next.

White said Michael Chandler is a fighter who he'd like to see face McGregor, following his head kick knock-out of Tony Ferguson at UFC 274. The UFC president reiterated there are many potential fights for the 33-year-old and it will all depend on who's available when McGregor returns. “I don’t know, I really like Chandler versus Conor after Chandler’s last fight," White told TMZ. "There’s plenty of fights to make, I don’t know if that’s the one, but we’ll see what the landscape looks like when Conor comes back.”

White discusses the timeline for McGregor's return.

White referenced the similar rankings between McGregor and Chandler that, as a result, encourage the UFC to book a fight between the pair. The 52-year-old said the former two-weight UFC champion is getting closer to his UFC return, and reckoned "end of this year, early next year" as the timeline for his comeback fight. “I’m just saying after his last interview, his last fight, Conor’s ranked No. 8, he’s ranked No. 5, it makes a lot of sense right now,” White added. “I think he’s getting better, he’s starting to ramp up his training some more and I’m hoping at the end of this year, early next year.” McGregor said he has two fights remaining on his UFC contract, having been signed to the company since 2013. Related links.

• Conor McGregor responds to Michael Chandler's callout after UFC 274.
• Five opponents Conor McGregor could make his UFC return against.
• Conor McGregor says he knows his next UFC opponent and fight date.

---