Conor McGregor BACKED by Jake Paul in UFC return row after Dana White reveals new timeline for star’s comeback

CONOR MCGREGOR has surprisingly been BACKED by Jake Paul following the latest apparent delay to his octagon return.

UFC president and CEO Dana White stunned fight fans this week by claiming the return of the promotion’s poster boy would take place in the AUTUMN and not in June.

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Conor McGregor recently claimed his clash with Michael Chandler would take place in June[/caption]

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UFC president Dana White poured cold water on talk of a summer return this week[/caption]

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McGregor has been backed by YouTuber Jake Paul in the ongoing saga[/caption]

White’s claim sent shockwaves in the MMA world, with many wondering what’s behind the prolonging of the Irishman‘s hiatus.

And YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, who has had his fair share of negative things to say about McGregor in recent years, has sympathy for The Notorious.

Upon hearing White’s comments, he took to X to say: “They are trying to do Conor like they did Nate [Diaz].

“Biggest star in the history of the sport and he can’t control when he fights.”

Fan favourite Diaz fought out his contract with the UFC in September 2022, which paved the way for a lucrative boxing match with Paul.

Former two-division champion McGregor, 35, hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier nearly three years ago.

The Dubliner is champing at the bit to get back in the cage and throw down with scheduled opponent Michael Chandler.

And he recently took to Instagram to vent his frustrations at the failure to finalise his return, writing on his story: “Get this f***ing date set.”

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MMA mogul McGregor had ambitions of headlining UFC 300 on April 13, although the promotion had other plans for his clash with Chandler.

And he got emotional last October when recalling his injury-enforced hiatus and pleading with the UFC brass to give him a date for his return.

He said: “I’ve been kept from my living for almost three years now. Understand that!

“I came through what I came through. I’m sitting on an injury and a loss.

“You hear what Alexander Volkanovski said? I relate. I must return to my way of living.

“This is my job. It’s beyond frustrating. … I just want the date. Give me the date, please. That’s it.”