Conor McGregor posts very encouraging Instagram pictures as return bombshell is dropped
CONOR MCGREGOR is hard at work ahead of his long-awaited return to the Octagon.
McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the cage since claiming the lightweight title at UFC 205, a card where he became the promotion’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion.
The former UFC lightweight champion's 19-month hiatus from the cage looks set to end later this year, though a date for his return hasn’t been set.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, McGregor is still training hard for his eagerly-anticipated comeback fight.
On Friday night, McGregor posted pictures of himself training with Cian Cowley to his official Instagram page.
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The first post included pictures of McGregor fireman’s carrying Cowley, his alleged accomplice at the UFC 223 media day, and squatting his fellow Irishman.
And the second post showed the pair engaging in some light sparring.
McGregor’s Instagram posts came a little less than 48 hours after new lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov claimed the UFC brass are working on their proposed mega-fight.
“Very soon, I’m going to come to the USA to begin my training camp,” Nurmagomedov said during a Live Raise broadcast.
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The UFC is working on fight, me versus Conor
“When the UFC give me fight, I’m going to come to California and I’m going to stay there in AKA with my family nine weeks before fight.
“I’m going to defend my Inshallah (god willing) this year. This year, I want to defend my title.
“About opponents, I don’t know, to be honest. I don’t know. But the UFC is working on fight, me versus Conor.”
McGregor’s head coach John Kavanagh can foresee a fight with Nurmagomedov happening before year’s end, telling Robin Black: "It’s the obvious fight.
"As his coach and as fan of MMA, it’s the fight I want to see evolve.
"I would almost bet anything that fight happens before the end of the year. I can’t imagine it not happening."