UFC president Dana White has compared Conor McGregor 's training for his MMA return to that of Rocky Balboa in Rocky 3.
McGregor has been forced to sit on the sidelines since breaking his tibia in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier in July.
The Irishman has progressed from being on crutches to now resuming boxing training as he continues his recovery from the injury.
During a Q&A on Twitter last week, McGregor revealed he will likely return to full MMA sparring by April and will fight again shortly after that.
And White likened McGregor's eventual return to the cage to Balboa's story from Rocky 3.
"Yeah he's chomping at the bit to get back in there and compete again. But it's gonna be a while before he can put some torque on that leg," White told Jim Rome.
"For him to start training again in April is probably about right."
"I don't know, he obviously still has the desire to compete. You don't ever hear Conor going 'you know what, I just don't have the desire for this anymore."
"Yes, obviously he is very rich and he's training like Rocky in Rocky 3, but he still has the desire to compete and the desire to fight."
In Rocky 3, Balboa struggles to deal with fame and fortune, losing to Clubber Lang before picking himself back up to avenge the loss and win back his heavyweight title.
Former two-weight champion McGregor, meanwhile, has expressed his desire of making the "greatest comeback in history" next year.
He underwent surgery following his leg break against Poirier and had a titanium rod fitted from his knee to his ankle in his injured leg.
And the UFC star is planning to use the metal rod as a weapon when he makes his UFC return.
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He wrote on Twitter: "I cannot wait to wrap this steel bar in my leg across the neck of a future opponent!
"I am counting down the seconds until I get to launch this weapon."
Three of McGregor's last four UFC appearances have ended in defeat, including two stoppage losses against Poirier in 2021.
He was submitted by bitter rival Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 and has only picked up a win against journeyman Donald Cerrone in the last five years.
McGregor - who sits at No.9 in the UFC lightweight rankings - has been called out by the likes of Max Holloway, Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson for his comeback fight.
The 33-year-old praised Chandler for his first three fights in UFC and admitted the former Bellator standout could well be the current 155-pound champion.
