Conor McGregor filmed back in the MMA gym ahead of 2017 UFC return with Nate Diaz trilogy fight and Khabib Nurmagomedov grudge-match on the cards
The Dublin sensation is taking time away from the octagon to become a father and he still fancies a Floyd Mayweather fight
CONOR MCGREGOR is back in training at his Dublin Straight Blast Gym ahead of a sensation 2017 UFC return.
The MMA icon is the rightful king of the feather and lightweight divisions – after stunning KO wins over Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez – but he was forced to drop the featherweight crown in November as he planned to take time away from the sport to become a father.
The celtic warrior has vowed to give Nate Diaz his final instalment of their fight trilogy and toyed with the idea of giving former ten-year boss Jose Aldo a second chance, after he destroyed MMA legend inside just 13 seconds in December 2015.
Unbeaten Russian UFC sensation Khabib Nurmagomedov has also been calling McGregor out as he aims to takeover the lightweight division after 24 consecutive MMA wins.
Nurmagomedov has repeatedly called McGregor out, labelled the two-weight champ overrated and called the superstar a “chicken”.
He said: “I want to stay humble but I have to talk. I understand how crazy powerful the UFC PR machine is.
“"At the start of the year your guy (McGregor) tapped like a chicken (to Nate Diaz), now he has a title shot. It's crazy. You know, guys, this is true, this is true.
"Ireland only has six million people, Russia has 150m. I want to fight your chicken! Let's go. Let's go with your chicken.
"At the beginning of the year, he tapped. And at the end of the year, he fights for the title. I don't understand this.”
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McGregor, however, holds all the aces over UFC after the company’s other star attraction Ronda Rousey suffered a humiliating fall from grace in the one-sided beat-down from Amanda Nunes.
After claiming his two belts back in November, McGregor said: “I’ve spent a lot of time slating everybody in the company. Backstage I’m starting fights over everybody.
“I’ve ridiculed everyone on the roster, I just want to say from the bottom of my heart, I’d like to take this chance to apologise to absolutely nobody.”
The southpaw is chasing a £100million boxing match with 49-o ring legend Floyd Mayweather and is being courted by WWE.
McGregor celebrated the new year with his whole family as sister Aoife got married in Ireland.