Dana White breaks silence after Conor McGregor calls out UFC boss over shock return to the octagon

UFC President and CEO Dana White has spoken out to give his response to Conor McGregor's demands for a shock return to the octagon.

On Tuesday night, UFC boss White went live on his Instagram account to announce several massive title fights that are due to get underway over the summer.

White confirmed that former champions Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will face off for the vacant lightweight title as current champion Islam Makhachev will vacate his belt to face the newly crowned welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena

Shortly after the massive title fights were confirmed, former two-weight UFC champion McGregor took to social media to congratulate White on making the fights and tease his return to the sport.

On X, he wrote: "Wow! Real exciting times again in the UFC! Oh Yes! Bravo, Dana White! Never a doubt!"

Later, in a series of posts on his Instagram story, the Irishman urged White to get in touch with him to discuss his comeback.

Tagging White and TKO promotions, he wrote: "Call that big butt nurse."

Before following it up with another story tagging the UFC, stating: "Let's get this show started."

But not White has played down any possibility of the Irishman returning to the UFC octagon anytime in the near future while speaking to journalist Adam Glyn.

"He's not fighting any time soon," White confirmed in an interview released on TikTok.

"I haven't talked to him in a minute. I don't know."

Conor McGregor scheduled to fight rival Michael Chandler in June 2024, but pulled out of the bout due to a toe injury. (Image: Getty)

McGregor last stepped foot in the octagon at UFC 264 in July 2021 to face Dustin Poirier for the third time, a fight which he lost via TKO in the first round.

Since then, the 36-year-old has regularly teased a return to the cage was even scheduled to fight rival Michael Chandler in June 2024, but pulled out of the bout due to a toe injury.

However, it now appears possible that the former champion may never return to the UFC octagon, confirming doubts from fans who believe that McGregor won't fight again after he was found liable for sexual assault stemming from a 2018 incident in Ireland,