"The Notorious" is back.
The UFC has officially announced that Conor McGregor will return from his two-year layoff to square off with Khabib Nurmagomedov for the lightweight championship at UFC 229 on October 7 in Las Vegas.
McGregor hasn't fought in an Octagon since he secured the lightweight title with a TKO win over Eddie Alvarez in November 2016, adding that belt to the featherweight strap he already held to become a dual-division champion.
The 30-year-old never defended either of those titles and was stripped of both by the UFC after he took time out to pursue a lucrative boxing bout with Floyd Mayweather.
Multiple-time world champion Mayweather eventually eased to a 10th round stoppage against McGregor in August. However, a gaudy pay-per-view haul of over $NZ44 million for the Irishman lead to speculation that he may never return to MMA.
That speculation was put to an end on Saturday morning (NZT) after McGregor agreed to a blockbuster bout against the undefeated Nurmagomedov in a match-up that's been months in the rumour mill.
Known as "The Eagle", grappling phenomenon Nurmagomedov has laid waste to the lightweight division in McGregor's absence, bolstering his 26-0 record with a series of dominant performances.
The Russian secured the vacant lightweight title in his most recent fight - a comprehensive unanimous decision win over Al Iaquinta in April.
A heated confrontation with McGregor's long-time friend and teammate, Artem Lobov, in a reception hall that week lit a fuse with the Irishman, which lead to McGregor and his crew attacking a bus in a loading dock with Nurmagomedov and other UFC fighters aboard.
Both Michael Chiesa and Ray Borg were forced to withdraw from their respective bouts due injuries sustained during McGregor's rampage.
Last week, McGregor agreed to a plea deal after being charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief.
Newshub.