It's now been more than a full year since Conor McGregor appeared in the UFC's Octagon.
McGregor (21-3) hasn't fought since he knocked out Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title in November 2016. The 29-year-old took time off for the birth of his son, Conor Jr. -- and, of course, that lucrative boxing match against Floyd Mayweather.
The Irish star has been somewhat coy about his next move, and anticipation continues to build.
When will McGregor fight next? And against whom? Here are the tea leaves you'll need to read when predicting those answers.
Feb. 22, 2018: Conor McGregor, via Instagram
A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on
Jan. 31, 2018: Conor McGregor, via Adam Glyn
"We'll see. I'm currently in negotiations to face my next opponent," McGregor said. "We have many options. There's current interim lightweight champion [Tony Ferguson]. There's an undefeated Dagestani [Khabib Nurmagomedov]. There might be a big Russian event. There's obviously the [Nate] Diaz trilogy. Of course, the Mayweather fight is there.
"We're just at the table at the moment. Times are good."
Jan. 4, 2018: Dana White, via Yahoo! Sports
"Conor and I haven't really figured out when he's coming back or what's going on. Conor has some big decisions to make here, really quick. I don't think Conor wants to fight until August. If he waits until August or September, that's around two years since the [UFC's lightweight] belt has been defended, and that can't happen."
Jan. 1, 2018: Khabib Nurmagomedov, via Twitter
- khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 1, 2018
Jan. 1, 2018: Conor McGregor, via Twitter
"That Dagestani [Nurmagomedov] was dog s--- the other night you's are all nuts. Game full of sloppy bums asking to be slept. Pay me my worth and Kings back."
Dec. 30, 2017: Khabib Nurmagomedov, after win over Edson Barboza at UFC 219
"I think real belt is Tony Ferguson. Conor have only one fight in UFC at 155 [pounds] and he champion. He beat old Eddie Alvarez. He's a good fighter, but he's not champion. I think a lot of people can beat him at 155. He have real belt, but this is not about him. It's because the UFC wants this. He come to lightweight and fight one time, and he's world champion? This is a little bit crazy."
Dec. 28, 2017: Dana White, via SportsCenter
"Let's get through the holidays, and hopefully he starts to get the itch to come back and hopefully we can get him back this summer. Money is always a factor, but we've never had a problem getting a deal done with Conor McGregor. I don't see that being a problem."
Dec. 16, 2017: Conor McGregor, via TMZ
"I think a true fight is what I want do next. MMA next."
Nov. 28, 2017: Dana White, news conference "We were working on a fight for him at the end of the year, and he's just not ready. We're still in that 'Conor may never fight again' [phase]. The guy's made $100 million. ... Try to get up and get punched in the face when you got $100 million in the bank."
Oct. 20: Nate Diaz, via Twitter
Legacy...
- Nathan Diaz (@NateDiaz209) October 20, 2017
Oct. 19: Owen Roddy, Talking Brawls podcast
"[Ferguson] is what Dana White is saying and because Ferguson is picking at Conor and stuff like that, it's starting to look like the more logical fight. But who knows? It's an exciting fight, isn't it? He definitely brings problems, and people are asking for it. That's the most important thing.
"Obviously, money talks at the end of the day. Whatever makes the most money is what people would go for. But because people are asking for it and posting about it, that's starting to gain the momentum that's needed to get that big fight. It's starting to build. It'll be a good fight. It'll definitely be a good fight."
Oct. 14: Paulie Malignaggi, Fight Hype interview
"I know [boxing advisor] Al Haymon is talking with Dana White. I know they're speaking. If they want the fight, they'll make it ... Once I spoke to team Haymon and they told me they wanted to make the fight, I knew the only way it wouldn't happen is if this guy has absolutely no balls. This fight will pay him more, this fight will get him more exposure, this fight is bigger than any fight he has. There is no Mayweather fight anymore."
Oct. 13: Conor McGregor, via Instagram
Oct. 11: Audie Attar, Conor McGregor's agent, Player Care Conference (via Sky Sports)
"We'll see, there are a lot of options. You had the interim lightweight title [fight] between Kevin Lee and Tony Ferguson last weekend in Las Vegas. Tony came out victorious. I represent Tony, so I was really happy for Tony to accomplish that. You have the trilogy fight with Nate Diaz. You even have boxers like Manny Pacquiao knocking on the door.
"I've said this in many interviews: Conor has earned the right [to choose] and the numbers don't lie. He is weighing his options. He is looking at all the different options and opportunities that are there for him, but there is no question that he wants to come back and compete."
Oct. 10: Owen Roddy, Conor McGregor's striking coach, Submission Radio
"I honestly think people would rather see Conor [versus] Diaz. I just think it's a more exciting fight for everybody -- the trilogy, the first two fights back-and-forth between the guys. Who wouldn't want to see Diaz III? The Ferguson fight is an interesting one as well. He's an exciting fighter. Either or. I'll just be happy to get Conor back in the UFC, fighting in the cage, doing what we do best."
Oct. 7: Tony Ferguson submits Kevin Lee at UFC 216, wins interim lightweight title
Oct. 7: Dana White, UFC 216 postfight news conference
"With Conor, this Floyd thing popped up, and the thing interim belts are good for is you don't glob up the division. Tony deserved it ... Now we have an interim champion and there's no question now who gets the shot at Conor. It's pretty definitive. You can have all these questions about, 'Oh, Khabib (Nurmagomedov) should get it. Kevin Lee should get it ...' There ain't no questions now. Tony Ferguson won [the interim title] in a great fight, fair and square. It's pretty simple."
Oct. 7: Tony Ferguson, ESPN interview
UFC interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson says that Conor McGregor needs to accept a title unification bout with him out of pride and that Ferguson would be ready to fight at the end of the year if the date worked.
"Check. Straight up, this is chess, man. You've got nowhere to go. You're in check. So, you need to defend. Don't vacate the thing. This isn't about the money fight, what it's about is pride. You don't want to see me holding your real belt, buddy ... I know Conor. Conor is a gamer. And as much s--- as I talk and everything else, it would be the most impressive, game fight in the world."
Oct. 6: Dana White, ESPN interview
UFC president Dana White says there's never been talk about Nate Diaz fighting Conor McGregor for the third time and that McGregor "has never turned down a fight."
"That's what I want, is for Conor to defend the title. There's this talk about him and Georges St-Pierre -- it's completely false. There has never been one conversation about Conor and 'GSP.'.... I'm still not a fan of [a Diaz trilogy fight]. Conor needs to defend the title. That's what I want."
Oct. 6: Georges St-Pierre, ESPN interview
Georges St-Pierre explains his presence at Conor McGregor's fight at UFC 196 in March 2016 and says he isn't challenging fighters in lower weight classes.
"Everything is possible, but everybody is targeting Conor McGregor because of money. I don't challenge guys that compete in lower weight divisions. For me, I don't do that. I'm going up to fight Michael Bisping now. I'm looking up. He's an amazing fighter, it would be an amazing honor, but I don't know. I don't know what to say. If the fans want it and he wants it, maybe it will happen."
Sept. 29: Conor McGregor, Evening with Conor McGregor (via MMAFighting.com)
"There's an interim belt on the line right now, that's an option. Of course, the Nate Diaz trilogy fight is there. Maybe one of these boxing guys ... maybe Malignaggi would come over and do an MMA bout ... or Floyd, maybe I could entice Floyd back ... [Georges St-Pierre] is another money fight, even though he's been retired. I don't know. I think he's going to get a-- whupped by [Michael Bisping, on Nov. 4]."
Sept. 28: Tony Ferguson, UFC 216 prefight conference call
"The next fight for Conor should be whoever wins this interim title. That b---- needs to defend or vacate that belt. As far as him trying to fight Nate ... that's the bulls--- rankings and everything else the UFC stands for just [going] out the window ... You have an interim belt for one reason: So you can unify the thing."
Sept. 26: John Kavanagh, Original Penguin public appearance (via MMAFighting.com)
"Dec. 30 is definitely not happening ... I can also tell you that his manager rang me this morning, saying that him and Conor had been in meetings all day. Obviously, tomorrow is when we would start to consider the date. If it was my choice, and I must stress this is only my choice and that doesn't mean it's going to happen, it would be Nate Diaz in March ... I have it in my head that it would be a Paddy's Day card in New York, Nate Diaz III. I think that would be absolutely amazing. That's what I would wish for."
Sept. 6: John Kavanagh, Conor McGregor's coach, The42.ie
"I've said for a long time that the Nate Diaz trilogy fight at lightweight is what I'd personally like to see next. That still needs to be put to bed ... Tony is a solid fighter, but he doesn't have the kind of appeal that would get your blood racing ... I find it hard to envisage another fight in 2017. Then again, knowing Conor, I could get a text message tonight telling me otherwise."
Sept. 5: Nate Diaz, via Instagram
Aug. 27: Nate Diaz, via Instagram
Aug. 26: Conor McGregor loses to Floyd Mayweather via 10th-round TKO
Aug. 26: Dana White, Mayweather-McGregor postfight news conference
"We're not talking about fighting tonight. He put on a great performance and we're not talking about fighting. You know how he is. When he's ready, he'll let me know."
Aug. 26: Conor McGregor, Mayweather-McGregor postfight news conference
"I can't tell you exactly what's next, but something is next ... Fighting is what I do and what I enjoy. I get itchy if I don't have a fight ... I'm certainly open to all options. I have many contenders in the mixed martial arts game. I have a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz that is sitting there. I have options. We'll see what's next. I'm here to fight."