McGregor delays UFC return, agrees to box Logan Paul in exhibition

Conor McGregor said Tuesday that he intends to delay his return to the UFC and has agreed to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India.

"The rumors of a bout with (Ilia) Topuria are false," McGregor posted on X. "I am in preliminary agreements with the Ambani family to face Logan Paul in a boxing exhibition in India. I have agreed. I will then seek my return to the Octagon."

McGregor hasn't stepped inside the Octagon since breaking his leg in a bout against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The former UFC two-division champion was in talks to fight Michael Chandler at UFC 303 in June but withdrew after sustaining a broken toe.

The "Notorious" previously fought Floyd Mayweather in his professional boxing debut in 2017, suffering a 10th-round TKO loss.

Paul will enter the ring after being involved in several high-profile boxing exhibitions. The YouTube star previously fought Mayweather and holds a draw and a loss to KSI. Paul also defeated former MMA fighter Dillon Danis. The 29-year-old has recently been a fixture in the WWE, capturing the U.S. title in late 2023.

McGregor and Paul have traded barbs in the past. In 2023, the Irish MMA star threatened to "slap the nose" off Paul as the latter prepared for a boxing match against Danis, McGregor's friend and training partner.

Rumors that McGregor could fight Topuria grew after the Spaniard captured the UFC featherweight championship with a second-round knockout of Alexander Volkanovski in February. "El Matador" successfully defended his title against Max Halloway at UFC 308 in October, finishing the BMF champ in the third round by KO.

Topuria has shared exchanges with McGregor on social media this year. The current UFC champ mocked McGregor for pulling out of his bout against Chandler after the Irishman said he'd "slap him around."

"Come to Madrid, and we will see who slaps who. Topuria Knuckles for dinner," Topuria said in a July post on X.