Conor McGregor may be nearing a deal to return to UFC this summer, according to multiple reports.

Ireland’s McGregor, who hasn’t fought since breaking his ankle in 2021 against Dustin Poirer, is “on the goal line” of completing a deal for a rematch with Max Holloway on July 11 during International Fight Week at UFC 29, according to MMA and boxing reporter Ariel Helwani.

“I was the first person to tell you Conor was coming back, I was the first person to tell you it was going to be Conor versus Max, I’m still the only one,” Helwani said on his show. “I can’t dictate or decide when they are going to announce things because that’s arbitrary. What I can tell you are the facts. So, I will never get wrong fight bookings, matchups, things of that nature.”

UFC president Dana White said on “The Jim Rome Show” that while he is “very confident” the 37-year-old McGregor will fight soon, a contract hasn’t been signed, nor has an opponent been announced. However, Helwani told his listeners to expect an official announcement prior to UFC Freedom 250, scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at the White House.

“If you don’t believe me, you’re going to be proven wrong. As of right now, they’re on the goal line,” Helwani said. “I’ve never said it’s signed, sealed, and delivered. It will be. I just want to make that clear, I am not walking this back.

“Something awful has to happen for this fight not to come to fruition July 11. (Announcing) it at the White House would be too late, that would be less than a month.”

Helwani later said, “Dana is right. It is not signed, sealed, and delivered. Is one side signed, sealed?”

McGregor and Holloway, now 34, last fought in 2013 in the featherweight division. McGregor won by unanimous decision.

–Field Level Media