He’s Back! Conor McGregor returns October 6 to face Khabib Nurmagomedov for the Lightweight Title

It has been a long, long time coming, but Conor McGregor will finally be making his return to the octagon. At the UFC 25th Anniversary news conference, UFC President Dana White made a special announcement regarding UFC 229. At the event in Las Vegas, McGregor will be facing Khabib Nurmagomedov for the latter’s Lightweight Title.

IT’S HAPPENING!!!@TeamKhabib vs. @TheNotoriousMMA at #UFC229 pic.twitter.com/FFag5B0HB8

— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 3, 2018

This is the first time in two years McGregor (21-3) has fought inside the octagon. He was last seen winning the Lightweight Title from Eddie Alvarez at UFC 205. Since then, he has been stripped of both that title and the Featherweight belt, mainly for never defending both. During those busy two years, he also took on Floyd Mayweather in a boxing contest, and was recently arrested for causing a disturbance the week leading up to UFC 223 by throwing a dolly at a bus full of MMA fighters.

His intended target was Khabib (26-0), who days before surrounded McGregor’s teammate Artem Lobov with a few members of his own team. Last week, McGregor accepted a plea deal from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office. The punishment, one which many in the MMA community are saying was a slap in the wrist, provided him the opportunity to actually fight for the title.

The undefeated Khabib won the Lightweight Title in a last-minute bout against Al Iaquinta at UFC 223. This was due to the interim champion, Tony Ferguson, and McGregor getting stripped of the belts (the former was dealing with an injury). He has been very vocal in calling McGregor out, wanting the fight so he can, in his words, crush the man from Ireland.

Now, does McGregor actually deserve a title shot, considering all that has gone on the past few months? That is a question that will be looked into at another point in time, so stay tuned.

For the UFC, this means everything to them. The ultimate money grudge fight between two of the best out there is what gets them going. They get their cash cow in Conor back, and a healthy Khabib all at once. It is just business.

Has ring rust affected McGregor’s chances? In Vegas, he is currently a +150 underdog against Khabib (-180). If we have learned anything from McGregor’s last fights, however, it is that anything is possible.