CONOR MCGREGOR's eagerly-anticipated return to the octagon will seemingly take place in Las Vegas this December.
The UFC's poster boy will return to the cage against fellow fan favourite Michael Chandler in what promises to be a barnburner between the two lightweight standouts.
The fight was announced several months ago, although a date wasn't revealed as McGregor had yet to re-enter the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
It was revealed last month that The Notorious, 34, would re-enter the pool "imminently" in order to seal a December dust-up.
And the return of The Mac looks set to take place in Las Vegas on December 16.
SunSport learned of the UFC's plans to stage their final pay-per-view event of the year in Sin City earlier this week.
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And the Nevada State Athletic Commission has since revealed the promotion has booked the 20,000-capacity T-Mobile Arena to stage UFC 296.
UFC president Dana White all but confirmed McGregor vs Chandler would take place in December when asked if the fight would be announced during the latest season of The Ultimate Fighter.
He said: “That’s correct [there will be an announcement during the airing of The Ultimate Fighter].
“There’s a fight. He has to get into the USADA pool first. He’s filling out the paperwork.
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"I don’t know how soon that will be done or what’s going on, but that’s his business, that he’s handling with USADA.
"But it’s all in motion.
“That’s what we’re shooting for. Hopefully, we have a big fight in Madison Square Garden in November, and then a big fight in December.”
McGregor's clash with Chandler will be his first outing since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier nearly two and a half years ago.
The UFC's first simultaneous division world champion underwent a painstaking rehab to get himself fighting fit and confident kicking with his once-broken left leg.
And he plans to wrap his new titanium shin bone around the chin of the former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Chandler.
The pride of Dublin said: "I’m gonna kick this guy in the head. He’s just tailor-made for being kicked all over the place.
"And that’s what I’m aiming for, I’m aiming to wrap this steel bar around the opponent.
" And you’re gonna see a visual of the leg hanging off, and then you’re gonna see a visual of a head hanging off.”
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McGregor will enter his showdown with Chandler riding a two-fight skid – which was inflicted on him by long-time rival Poirier.
Chandler, meanwhile, has gone 1-1 in his last two outings – the most recent of which saw him suffer a third-round submission defeat to Poirier.
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