UFC commentator and analyst Jon Anik has more insight than most non-fighters into the ups and downs of a UFC career. Anik recently held an interview with Chamatkar Sandhu, in which he discussed the nature of former two-division champion Conor McGregor’s return to competition.
“I just wanna see Conor McGregor back. I have said in so many interviews over the past several years that the only place for Conor to sort of scratch the competitive itch that he’s trying to scratch is the Octagon. It’s not in bare-knuckle boxing – with respect – it’s nowhere else, it’s not in a boxing ring.
Jon Anik Provides Update On Conor McGregor UFC Return
And I would softly remind everyone that had he not broken his leg we probably already would have seen him at least once, if not twice more. I really do believe him at his word when he suggested he wants to be in an active competition cycle in the UFC.”
McGregor is currently two years into his UFC layoff, following a brutal broken leg sustained fighting Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Prior to that, McGregor took two years off between earning the lightweight title against Eddie Alvarez and fighting Khabib Nurmagomedov.
It was over a year before his next Octagon appearance, a knockout win over Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, and a year after that before his two fights in rapid succession against Dustin Poirier.
Factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and the broken leg have waylaid McGregor’s latest tilts at an active UFC presence, and Jon Anik believes we’ll see “The Notorious” return to a frequent schedule as soon as he can.
“I think we get him fourth quarter [this year] and dependent upon results I think you absolutely get him again first quarter, second quarter 2024.
I feel like he’s chasing further greatness, and I know he has more money than he ever even expected that he would have, but how much is he gonna enjoy his retirement if he doesn’t get a few more scalps in MMA? I think we see him against Michael Chandler in December. As long as he doesn’t break his leg, I think we see him in March 2024 as well.”
McGregor is currently coaching this season of The Ultimate Fighter, opposite Michael Chandler. Traditionally, the two opposing coaches fight at the end of the season. Most are expecting the UFC to end the year with the McGregor vs Chandler fight, but no date has yet been confirmed.
