Have MMA gods finally answered the prayers of fans waiting for Conor McGregor’s return? The former double champ might be ready to answer the call again. After Dana White’s flurry of UFC 317 fight announcements shook up the MMA landscape, McGregor responded the only way he knows how: loud, cryptic, and ready to rumble.

But is this time different? Could we finally see ‘The Notorious’ one back inside the cage by the end of the year? If his latest Instagram stories are anything to go by, the wheels might already be in motion, and the UFC brass has been put on alert with a bold demand by the Irishman.

Conor McGregor sends rumbles of anticipation in the MMA sphere with a message for Dana White and the UFC brass

The comments made by Conor McGregor were shared on Instagram by ‘Championship Rounds’. The first showed McGregor tagging Dana White and the TKO Group account on X with a message that read, “CALL THAT BIG B— NURSE”. Cryptic? Of course. But according to another report by the ‘West Till Death’ account, it may be a sign of something on the horizon.

How? The MMA outlet shared, “Conor McGregor is ready to get back in the testing pool to return to the UFC if he tested tomorrow, he could fight as soon as November 15th.”

This sudden burst of energy comes right after a storm of UFC news. Dana White took to Instagram Live to announce Islam Makhachev had vacated his lightweight title. The belt is now up for grabs between Charles Oliveira and Ilia Topuria at UFC 317. For McGregor, who has a well-documented beef with Makhachev and the Dagestani team, the move may have re-ignited his desire to come back to challenge for his lightweight crown.

Another hint? McGregor shared a compilation of the UFC boss announcing his entrances with a caption that read, “Let’s get this show started @UFC.” A demand or maybe even a promise. After all, McGregor has often treated UFC announcements like a chessboard, waiting for the right moment to strike. And with Makhachev out of the lightweight picture, his rival Michael Chandler on a losing streak, the window might finally be open for UFC executive Hunter Campbell to begin negotiations with the Irishman.

Still, it’s worth noting that Conor McGregor has teased this before. Just a few months ago, he claimed he’d only return if the UFC booked a stadium show, yet no negotiations followed. In fact, the Irishman is seemingly tied up with launching businesses and even flirting with political ambitions. Not to mention his part-ownership in BKFC, which has kept him plenty busy and vocal.

So, is this latest move another bluff? Because ‘The Notorious’ recently shared new training footage, and let’s just say the fan response wasn’t what he might have been expecting!

McGregor’s training footage amid UFC return rumors leaves fans concerned

Conor McGregor dropped a fresh training video online, which stirred the pot amongst the MMA sphere yet again. In the clip, McGregor is seen hitting pads with his coach. The pace? Slower than expected. The pad? Comically large and covering his coach’s entire body! The internet didn’t waste a second as the fans began firing off jabs and questions.

One user wrote, “No shot, bro is holding a full-sized wall mat”, while another pointed out the most worrying thing in the footage as they wrote, “Looking slow for the first time.”

The common theme? McGregor didn’t look like his old self. But should anyone be surprised? The man hasn’t fought since 2021. He’s now 36. The jet-set lifestyle, the businesses, the parties, all of it adds up. Age and mileage don’t just show in records; they show in timing and tempo too. As Joe Rogan recently confessed, “What’s really sad is if he comes back when he’s 39 or 40 (years old) and his body just doesn’t have it anymore.”

So, what do we make of it all? Is Conor McGregor truly gearing up for one last dance, or is this just another round of smoke and spectacle? The signs are there: cryptic posts, a possible re-entry into the drug testing pool, bold stadium demands, and even pad work (however questionable). The timing? Suspiciously perfect. With the lightweight title vacant and his old rival Michael Chandler struggling, the stars may be aligning. But as history has shown, Conor McGregor’s return teases often come with a twist.

The question now is, do all the signs point towards an impending return later this year, or is this just another chapter that may lead to heartbreak for fans hoping for ‘The Notorious’ to step back into the Octagon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!