Conor McGregor targets shock showdown with rival amid huge UFC 300 doubt for Michael Chandler fight

CONOR MCGREGOR insists he has unfinished business with long-time rival Dustin Poirier.

The Notorious’ rivalry with the former interim lightweight champion dates back to September 2014, when they first met as a pair of featherweight prospects.

Conor McGregor won his first fight with Dustin Poirier via first-round KO back in 2014GETTY

Ex-interim lightweight king Poirier exacted his revenge in Abu Dhabi seven years laterGETTY

McGregor unfortunately broke his leg in their trilogy fight in July 2021AP

McGregor struck the first blow in their series, knocking out the American in the first round of their MGM Grand melee.

Poirier would get his shot at revenge seven years later in Abu Dhabi and grasped the opportunity with both hands, knocking out the Irishman in the second round of their UFC 257 showdown.

A horrific leg break for McGregor in the closing stages of their Sin City trilogy fight six months later would see Poirier move 2-1 up in their series.

And the way McGregor sees it, the unfortunate ending to the series decider warrants another meeting.

The UFC’s poster boy wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Let’s be real, it’s a must. “Unfinished.”

McGregor, 35, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since that fateful night at the T-Mobile Arena – although he’s fighting fit and ready to go after a long and arduous rehab.

The Irishman will be welcomed back to the cage by fellow fan favourite and former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler.

Their long-awaited showdown was expected to headline UFC 300 in April, but McGregor’s head coach recently revealed the promotion are eyeing a July return for the Dubliner.

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During an appearance on The MMA Hour, the SBG Ireland head coach told Ariel Helwani: “We were hoping for April.

“That was the hope, that’s what we were told and now it seems to be the summertime.”

McGregor, however, insists he will top the bill of the historic card – telling a fan on X he’s “in” when asked about headling the show.

Former two-division champion McGregor recently got overwhelmed with emotion recalling his recovery from his life-changing injury and he pleaded with the UFC brass to give him a date for his comeback.

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.”

Conor McGregor will be welcomed back to the octagon by Michael ChandlerTwitter/@TheNotoriousMMA