CONOR McGREGOR bizarrely faced off with Petr Yan as a boxing match between the two was teased.
The pair of UFC stars – who are two weight divisions apart – attended an IBA boxing event in Dubai when they went head to head in the ring.
UFC star Petr Yan and Conor McGregor going face to face
Umar Kremlev – president of the International Boxing Association – then announced that the pair would meet in the ring next year.
But the UFC would be sure to disagree.
UFC fighters are prohibited from competing outside of the promotion unless granted special permission.
McGregor was given so in 2017 for his crossover bout with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, which ended in tenth-round defeat.
But heavyweight Francis Ngannou walked out on the UFC last year after being denied the chance to do the same.
He instead signed for rivals The Professional Fighters League and fought Tyson Fury, controversially losing on points after scoring a knockdown.
McGregor, 35, is out in Dubai training for his UFC return, which is set for next year against Michael Chandler.
He is finally on track for a comeback bout, which will be his first since July 2021.
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He has suffered a frustrating period on the sidelines since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier, 34.
But after returning to the UFC’s all-year round random drug testing program, he will be eligible to fight again.
Chandler, 37, has had frustrations of his own waiting for the bout to materialise but the American is willing to wait it out.
He said on The MMA Hour: “I’ve fought extremely hard.
“Some very, very tough fights I’ve had since I came into the UFC, especially [since] I fought everybody inside the top five basically.
“Fights of the Year, Knockouts of the Year, all of those different things.
“So any time I find myself being frustrated, I believe I’m always able to go back to my north star that, hey, it’s going to work out the way it’s going to, just like me coming to the UFC.
“That door stayed closed until it was time for that door to open.
“The door opening for this fight with Conor, whenever it’s finally supposed to be, it will be, and I’m just being at peace in the midst of the waiting.”
McGregor is set to fight Michael Chandler in his UFC return