Conor McGregor Confirms His Next Fight Will Be in MMA

Conor McGregor wants a mixed martial arts fight when he returns to action in 2018.

Despite rumors that Manny Pacquiao had reached out to McGregor about a potential boxing match next year, the UFC lightweight champion quickly shot that down when asked about what’s next for him.

McGregor was in New York on Friday when TMZ caught up with him to find out his plans for 2018.

“We’ll see what happens,” McGregor said. “I think a true fight is what I want to do next. A real fight, what’s a real fight? MMA next.”

That will be music to the ears of UFC president Dana White, who has anxiously been awaiting word on McGregor’s return to action while the two sides are still locked in negotiations to hammer out a new deal for his next fight.

McGregor has made it clear that he wants to be a co-promoter alongside the UFC — a stipulation the promotion has never agreed to previously — while also looking at a more lucrative contract after earning a reported $100 million payday for his boxing match against Floyd Mayweather this past summer.

While the most likely opponent for McGregor would be interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson, it’s safe to say the 29-year old Irishman has more bargaining power to hand pick whoever he fights next more than anyone else in UFC history.

Still it’s a step in the right direction that McGregor himself is saying that he wants to fight MMA next rather than pursuing another boxing match or even offers to crossover into entertainment.

In fact, McGregor was asked about possibly making an appearance in World Wrestling Entertainment but it’s safe to say he’s not interested.