McGregor eyes possible July return, hints at UFC lightweight title fight
Conor McGregor is nearing a return to the Octagon after breaking his leg in a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 over seven months ago.
"Day-by-day, I feel better," McGregor said in an interview Friday with Severe MMA. "They're telling me to take it easy, but I feel I can go. I just need to pull the reins back on my own self, so that's kind of what I'm doing."
The 33-year-old is looking to begin sparring in April. He's optimistic that he can return to the UFC by July, a year after he suffered his injury.
McGregor also advised UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira to wait a month or two to compete instead of defending his title against Justin Gaethje at UFC 274 on May 7.
"If I'm sparring in April, May, June, July - I could slap the head off of most of these guys at the end of April," said McGregor.
McGregor added that he isn't sure which weight class he would compete at after fighting Poirier at 155 pounds in his previous two bouts. The former two-division champion said he plans to fight at lightweight or welterweight.
Regardless of opponent or weight, McGregor said he wants people to give him more respect for "all of the facets of my game."