UFC president Dana White has told reporters that Conor McGregor will not fight in 2024 amid his comeback bid from fractures to his left tibia and fibula suffered in a July 2021 bout against Dustin Poirier.

McGregor quickly responded to White’s comments, pushing for a December fight date. McGregor has since deleted the post.

The Irishman was slated to make his long-awaited return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29, but he suffered a broken toe during training that forced him out of the event.

Chandler and McGregor had notably coached against each other in The Ultimate Fighter reality series.

The former two-division champion then posted on X on July 2 that he was “excited” to secure a new date. However, it appears that will have to wait until 2025.

Chandler had openly hoped for a fight against McGregor at the Sphere in Las Vegas at UFC 306 in September.

However, Chandler is looking ahead to whatever is next as well.

“I am an optimist by default, so I do believe the Conor fight will happen, but right now we are in a period where things are being talked about,” he told Lucky Block (h/t Simon Samano of MMA Junkie).

“What date? Is it Conor? Is it pivoting to a different fight? Is it making the best decision for me and my family? I love the idea that Conor and I did The Ultimate Fighter, we had a training camp, we signed on the dotted line. But as much as I respect Conor, my legacy is not hinged upon this fight.”

So, it’s a waiting game for both him and McGregor, who has only fought three times in the last six years.

At his peak, McGregor became the first-ever UFC fighter to hold belts in two different weight classes simultaneously (featherweight and lightweight).

The 36-year-old posted a 15-match winning streak capped by a first-round knockout against UFC Hall of Famer José Aldo in 13 seconds at UFC 194 in Dec. 2015.

For his career, McGregor is 22-6 with 19 knockouts.