Conor McGregor has promised to take care of "unfinished business" when he returns to the UFC.
The Irish superstar has been pictured in training as he looks to step up his recovery from a fractured tibia that he suffered during defeat to Dustin Poirier.
He is eyeing a return to the cage next year and currently has two fights remaining on his current deal with the promotion.
UFC president Dana White offered an update on McGregor who he described as "chomping at the bit" to search for redemption at 155lbs.
“Yeah he’s chomping at the bit to get back in there and compete again," White told Jim Rome. "But it’s gonna be a while before he can put some torque on that leg,” he said. “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 III, but he still has the desire to compete and the desire to fight.”
McGregor has since issued a response on Twitter to White's update : "Unfinished business to attend to."
With three defeats in his last four fights, McGregor will know that he will need a quick response to climb the lightweight rankings.
He has been offered challenges from a number of opponents including former rival Max Holloway and lightweight contenders Michael Chandler and Rafael Dos Anjos.
The offers have come amid criticism from many regarding his career decline which has seen him slide to ninth in the UFC's rankings.
But potential opponent Chandler has leapt to the defence of McGregor branding those who criticise his UFC legacy "haters".
Will Conor McGregor ever become world champion again on his UFC return? Let us know your verdict in the comments section below
Chandler told the 'Bussin' With The Boys' podcast : "It’s a different approach when you’re fighting a guy like Conor because fighting a guy like (Justin) Gaethje, who loves to brawl.
"So, you’ve definitely gotta be on your Ps and Qs with the striking. But then the coolest thing about Conor, too, is everybody always talks about how bad of a wrestler he is, how bad of a grappler he is.
His mental awareness capacity and stability inside of the octagon, inside the confines of competition – especially with how heightened the stakes and the senses are, inside of his fights, while everybody in the entire world is watching – it’s something to behold, man.
"He’s a different level of competitor. And anybody who discredits him because he’s lost fights is just either a casual or a Conor hater, to be honest with you.”
McGregor will first make his return to action when he takes on impressionist Al Foran in a wheelchair boxing match in aid of the Irish Wheelchair Association next March.
