After reportedly stepping away from Ireland for a while amidst the Nikita Hand civil lawsuit judgment, Conor McGregor has found himself settling into life in America—and he seems to be embracing it wholeheartedly. From the looks of it, he has no plans to leave anytime soon. Last month, the Irishman attended Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration as the 47th President of the United States, joining a distinguished gathering of figures such as UFC CEO Dana White, Joe Rogan, and fellow fighters Jake and Logan Paul.

Reflecting on the moment, McGregor expressed his support, stating, “Honour to be in Washington, D.C., to support Donald Trump, the newly elected leader of the free world, and to stand with the 13 families who lost their loved ones at Abbey Gate. I am looking forward to meeting Vice President JD Vance, Donald Trump Jr., and Charlie Kirk tonight.” But ‘The Notorious’s American experience didn’t end there. Later in the same month, he indulged in one of the nation’s most beloved pastimes—basketball. He made an appearance at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City to watch the Milwaukee Bucks face off against the Utah Jazz.

During the game, the Irishman shared a lighthearted moment with the Bucks’ 7’1” star Brook Lopez. Seated on the bench during the second quarter, Lopez caught Conor McGregor’s attention. Curious about the stark height difference, the 5’9” McGregor walked over and playfully asked Lopez to stand up and face him.

The towering Lopez easily overshadowed the former UFC double champion, creating a humorous moment that was quickly captured on video. The clip soon went viral, and weeks later, it resurfaced online—grabbing McGregor’s attention once more. True to his outspoken nature, he couldn’t resist reacting, simply commenting, “😂 Classic.”

Despite being in the twilight of his career, 36-year-old Brook Lopez remains a key figure in the NBA. A seasoned veteran, he played a crucial role in the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship-winning campaign in 2021 and continues to make an impact on the court. As for Conor McGregor, he remains in the U.S., staying close to the UFC, Dana White, and other top officials.

However, any concrete signs of his long-awaited return to the Octagon are still absent. It has now been four years since his last fight at UFC 264 against Dustin Poirier, leaving fans restless for his comeback. But will the former champion ever make his return? Perhaps his greatest rival has the answer.

An updated look at Conor McGregor’s MMA return timeline

UFC CEO Dana White has officially pushed back Conor McGregor’s return to late 2025, leaving fans waiting even longer for the former champion’s comeback. Initially speaking at the UFC 309 post-fight press conference, White stated, “Conor is going to come back in late 2025, so there is plenty of time to figure out who he will fight. I told you guys he probably wasn’t going to fight in 2024, and he didn’t. He’s going to fight in 2025, probably at the end of the year. If it’s earlier, that’s good for all of us.”

Recently, the head honcho further cleared the air on McGregor’s fighting future on the Pardon My Take podcast. “No,” White said when asked if McGregor was boxing Logan Paul. “No, no, no,” White said with a laugh when asked if it was KSI instead. However, with a vague clarification to answer if McGregor will ever fight in the UFC again. “Eventually,” said White. “Hopefully Conor McGregor returns in the fall of this year.”

With the Irishman’s return now expected to coincide with the UFC’s annual Madison Square Garden event, anticipation remains high. However, as of February 2025, there are still no clear signs of him stepping back into the Octagon. Instead, Conor McGregor has been keeping busy with ventures outside of fighting, and as more time passes, fans are beginning to lose hope.

Dustin Poirier, the last fighter to face ‘The Notorious’, has expressed similar doubts. Their trilogy bout at UFC 264 in 2021—driven by bitter rivalry—ended with McGregor suffering a severe leg injury. Recently, Poirier sat down with talkSPORT, where he was asked if he believed the Irishman would ever fight again.

“I was hopeful at first—I thought if anyone could come back from this injury, it would be him. He’s got a strong mind,” Poirier admitted. “But as more time passes and these fights keep falling apart after he announces them, I’m losing hope. He had a great matchup too. I think Michael Chandler was an incredible opponent for his return.” ‘The Diamond’ said.

Do you agree with Dustin Poirier’s doubts about McGregor’s return? After a four-year hiatus, do you think the former champion can make a successful comeback to the Octagon? If so, who would be the ideal opponent for his return? Share your thoughts below!