Conor McGregor has dropped out of the top 10 in the UFC lightweight rankings as the wait for his comeback drags on.
The Irish star has not fought since breaking his leg in defeat by Dustin Poirier last year which was his third loss in his last four fights. McGregor has recently resumed kicking with his injured leg again and is eyeing a comeback, but it could now be delayed until early next year.
He is eyeing a fresh charge in the 170lb division after showing off a new ripped physique during his recover. And the chances of a weight switch may now have been boosted further after dropping four places to No.12 in the 155lb rankings. McGregor has fallen behind the likes of Arman Tsarukyan, Rafael Fiziev and Tony Ferguson.
It will see him out of the top ten for the first time in several years, having suffered a significant decline in recent fights. McGregor is without a win at 155lb since defeating Eddie Alvarez in 2016 to become double-champion. His last win came at 170lb in his return against Donald Cerrone after losing to bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov.
McGregor's comeback is now unlikely to take place until the new year after his training schedule hit a significant snag. The Irishman has been keeping fans updated on social media along his road to recovery, and has most recently been spotted hitting a heavy bag.
UFC president Dana White anticipates McGregor will be looking to return late this year or early next year with two fights remaining on his current deal. “Conor’s return will be in the cage. Conor’s looking to come back the end of this year, early next year," White said on the Jim Rome Show when addressing talks of his UFC comeback.
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“When I do talk to Conor, Conor wants to fight. Conor gets all kinds of offers for movie roles and all these other things that he could go and do and make money. He doesn’t want to do any of that. Conor wants to fight. When he fights, he gets paid. Fighting is what he wants to do.”
Several options have emerged for McGregor including a return back to 155lb where he could be handed an immediate title challenge by Charles Oliveira if the Brazilian wins back his vacated belt. However there are also multiple lucrative fights to be made at 170lb including a shot at Jorge Masvidal and an immediate title challenge against Kamaru Usman.
His former teammate Paddy Holohan would rather see him launch a quest at 170lb and try to become the UFC's first three-weight champion. "If there's anybody that can do it, it's Conor McGregor," Holohan said. I like the Chandler fight, I think his body shape is perfect. It's like Alvarez, Aldo, certain body types suit Conor and he will put them to sleep. If there's a man to do it, it's Conor McGregor."
