Conor McGregor's decision to return to the UFC after breaking his leg has been described as "baffling" by one of his management team.
And Tim Simpson has claimed the Irish star could delay his comeback until later this year despite being expected to return this summer.
McGregor is currently on holiday with his family in the Bahamas as he continues his recovery from the injury he suffered against Dustin Poirier.
Both the Dubliner and UFC president Dana White have said a summer return is on the cards as McGregor eyes a resumption of sparring and full training in April.
But his manager considers McGregor's desire to fight again "baffling" after achieving his financial and MMA goals.
“Really that’s on Conor [when to return], but I expect this year," Simpson told the MMA Hour. "He is in the Bahamas with his family right now and is focusing on other business ventures.
“He doesn’t need to come back, the fact he is who he is and what he has achieved financially and athletically. After that injury it was like ‘now might be the time’ but he wants to fight again which to me is baffling and says a lot about him.
“I don’t think it will be in the summer but it will definitely be some stage this year. Maybe we see when the lightweight title fight happens and go then.
"He will fight this year and it is a credit to him, he has no real reason to fight other than the fact he wants to and that is impressive."
McGregor suffered a damaging second consecutive defeat by Poirier last summer which left him on the verge of dropping out of the lightweight top ten.
McGregor's return bout is unlikely to be a fourth bout with Poirier after the fight was ruled out by 'The Diamond'.
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McGregor previously demanded a title shot against Oliveira after the Brazilian admitted he was "waiting" for his challenge.
However that was swiftly debunked after Dana White confirmed the fight will take place against Gaethje.
Now Simpson has claimed that McGregor's return could come at a perfect time to challenge the winner of Oliveira's defence which is set to take place in May.
"Let's see what happens in the title fight," Simpson continued. "The thing with Conor is he's always had options.
"He'll have options when he's ready and regardless of everything else that's going on in the division, he sells. He can fight anybody, regardless of what could be said is 'right' for the division.
"In the end business rules and he could step into that title fight if he wanted to."
