Conor McGregor: "I am fighting again. I'm the best at this".

McGregor (above) before his last MMA match at UFC 205 in November 2016:

UFC Lightweight champion Conor McGregor has refuted recent rumors suggesting we may have already seen his final octagon appearance in an Instagram post last night, claiming he has his eyes firmly set on a return to mixed-martial arts, and how the UFC must come to him in order to entice 'The Notorious' one back to the sport.

thenotoriousmma: "I am fighting again. Period. I am the best at this. I put my name forward to step in at UFC 222 to fight Frankie Edgar when Max Holloway pulled out, but I was told there wasn't enough time to generate the money that the UFC would need. I was excited about bouncing in last minute and taking out the final featherweight, without all the rest of the stuff that comes with this game. Please respect the insane amount of work outside the fight game that I have put in. On top of the fighting game. I am here. It is on them to come and get me. Because I am here. Yours sincerely, The Champ Champ™"

According to the former featherweight best, he attempted to step in on short notice to face Frankie 'The Answer' Edgar at next weekend's UFC 222 after defending champion Max Holloway was forced out through injury, but was told that the bout wouldn't make logical sense money-wise. Edgar was of course offered the McGregor bout back art UFC 196 after Rafael Dos Anjos pulled from the main event with a broken metatarsal, but declined due to an underlying groin injury. The UFC brass also overlooked Edgar when José Aldo injured his rib before UFC 189, where the currently suspended Chad Mendes stepped up, ultimately losing via second round knockout in the pair's Interim match up. Edgar's extensive wrestling background, impressive cardio and work rate made many believe he would prove to be Conor's most difficult opponent, unfortunately it seems this pairing will fail to come to fruition yet again.

McGregor is still listed at the undisputed UFC Lightweight champion despite not competing since November 2016, but upon the official meeting of Interim champion Tony 'El Cucuy' Ferguson and undefeated top contender Khabib 'The Eagle' Nurmagomedov, he is expected to be stripped on his title. He is also expected to between September and October to face the victor of the aforementioned UFC 223 main event. 

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