Conor McGregor's Manager Claims Talks Are 'Progressing' Over Donald Cerrone Fight

Conor McGregor could soon be back in action in the UFC with his manager revealing talks are 'progressing' over a fight with 'Cowboy' Donald Cerrone.

It's been over a year since McGregor last fought, his UFC 229 defeat by Khabib Nurmagomedov, but speculation that he will return in January, fuelled by himself, are ever increasing.

Now it looks like that fight will be against Donald Cerrone. Speaking to the South China Morning Post, the Irishman's manager Audie Attar claimed negotiations had started, "I would say that talks have been progressing," Attar said.

"We've met them, we're in close communication with them. I would hope that an announcement could happen in the coming weeks, but at the end of the day, it's still a work in progress."

McGregor confirmed at a press conference in Russia earlier this month that he would be returning to the octagon at the beginning of 2020, with a date in January expected for the fight.

'Cowboy' has been a rumoured future opponent for the Irishman even before the comeback was official and according to reports at the beginning of November the American text UFC president Dana White about the rumours saying, "I hope this is true."

Cerrone during his most recent fight against Justin Gaethje. Image: PA Images

Cerrone's two most recent fights have both been losses to lightweight title contenders. At UFC 238 he was stopped by Tony Ferguson, who is expected to be Khabib's next challenger, and then was stopped again by Justin Gaethje in September.

The 36-year-old has fought four times in all in 2019, a run of fights in a calendar year that McGregor hasn't managed since he had five fights in 2011, before his UFC debut.

The 'Notorious' is expected to fight three times in 2020 though and Attar believes staying active is best for the former two weight UFC champion, saying, "When you look back to when he was winning fights, he was fighting often. He wasn't fighting once a year, he was fighting often, he was staying active."

Before the loss to Khabib, McGregor hadn't fought in UFC for two years. Image: PA Images

With a couple of hiatuses away from the octagon, one for his fight with Floyd Mayweather and the current one following his six month suspension, it's been some time since McGregor was active in MMA.

Hopefully the Cerrone fight could be the start of a comeback for one of the most entertaining men in sport.

Who wins, Cerrone or McGregor?

Topics: Donald Cerrone, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor Mcgregor, UFC News, MMA News, UFC, MMA, Dana White

Ryan Sidle

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