THE UFC are reportedly considering performing a U-turn on having Conor McGregor headline UFC 300.
The Notorious was seemingly a dead cert to top the historic April card after it was confirmed his long-awaited showdown with Michael Chandler wouldn't take place this December.
UFC chief executive officer Dana White, however, poured cold water on talk of the Irishman topping the bill of the promotion's 300th pay-per-view offering, insisting he would return in the summer.
McGregor's head coach recently revealed that a July return is on the cards, although veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani has claimed the promotion are seemingly having a change of heart.
During a recent appearance on Sean O'Malley's podcast, the Canadian said: "I've heard since that maybe plans are changing."
Not having McGregor headline UFC 300 would mean likely see the UFC brass bank two massive pay-per-view events this year.
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The logic is a sound, although Helwani – like many others – believes the promotion already has a guaranteed home run in their hands.
He said: "Sometimes I feel like the UFC, because Conor is such a big deal, they try to find like the perfect scenario for him to fight in.
"And I can understand from a business standpoint why you wouldn't want to put him on 300.
"300 is going to sell itself because of the pageantry of the number and whatnot.
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"So maybe if you put him on 301, you get two bites of that million buy apple, if you get what I'm saying.
"Because maybe 301 wouldn't be great without him.
"But to me, come on man. Conor's ready to go. Who knows how many fights he has left in him?
"He's foaming at the mouth, he's almost begging for a fight. Put him on that damn card."
Former two-division champion McGregor, 35, hasn't set foot inside the octagon since breaking his leg in his Las Vegas trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier two-and-half years ago.
But the Dubliner is fighting fit and champing at the bit to get back in the octagon, so much so that he recently pleaded to 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.”
The pride of Dublin added: “It’s whoever they want.
"I won’t ever say no. I just want a date. I won’t ever say no to no one, yeah?
"Chandler is what it seems to be. It does not matter to me as long as I get back in there.”
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