Conor McGregor Planning 'At Least' Two More Octagon Outings Before Year's End

Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari - Zuffa LLC

Well, he's already got a July 10th. UFC 264 headliner opposite two-time foe, Dustin Poirier signed and sealed, however, former two-weight champion, Conor McGregor has plans to score another Octagon appearance before the close of 2021. 

The Crumlin native has already featured once this year, taking main event honours at UFC 257 in January on 'Fight Island' -- suffering his first knockout defeat in professional mixed martial arts at the hands of the aforenoted, Poirier in the second round. 

The outing came as the first of McGregor's career since a January 2020 forty-second knockout victory over last weekend's UFC Vegas 26 feature, Donald Cerrone.

Activity has become scarce for the Dubliner since his lightweight title coronation back in November of 2016, with a total of just three Octagon appearances coming in those five years since. 

Collecting the undisputed lightweight championship opposite, Eddie Alvarez in a truly masterful performance to become the first two-weight titleholder held simultaneously in promotional history McGregor made a venture to the squared circle the following August for a professional boxing outing against decorated former world champion, Floyd Mayweather, eventually dropping a tenth round TKO defeat.

Only returning to professional mixed martial arts in October of 2018, the Straight Blast Gym trainee met with then-undisputed lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov in a heated rivalry, which eventually culminated, come fight night, at least in a fourth round neck crank loss. His January 2020 showdown against Cerrone came as his first walk since his bad-blooded outing against Nurmagomedov. 

Engaging with users on his official Twitter account last night, McGregor posted the hashtag #AskNotorious -- and when prompted by a fan to disclose how many fights he's planning to lodge before the end of the year, McGregor replied: "2 at least".

 

2 at least. https://t.co/oJBzECQRT4

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 10, 2021

As far as opponents are concerned, McGregor has a rubber match with Poirier awaiting him at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in July, however, he made his intentions to pursue the lightweight championship clear following his trilogy tie with Poirier.

"I'll have a few Proper Parties! It's my birthday that week. Then the world title," McGregor replied to a user who asked him what his plans would be if he overcame Poirier on July 10th.

 

I’ll have a few Proper Parties!
It’s my birthday that week.
Then the World title. https://t.co/ShFJ1PDyzU

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 9, 2021

With the UFC lightweight championship currently vacant following Nurmagomedov's official retirement, the destination of the title is set to be decided this weekend at UFC 262 in the Toyota Centre in Houston, Texas -- as the streaking submission specialist, Charles Oliveira meets with former three-time Bellator lightweight champion, Michael Chandler. And the latter has made no secret of defending the championship, should he overcome Oliveira, against McGregor in the winter should he similarly get past Poirier.