Conor McGregor making a comeback by the end of the year is 'very realistic' according to best friend and training partner Peter Queally.
The Notorious hasn't been in the octagon since his loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov in October last year, but it has been rumoured that he will return to the UFC within the next five months.
Speaking yesterday at a press conference for Bellator MMA's return to Dublin on September 27th, Queally admitted that he has been 'getting the vibe' from McGregor that he will return by the end of the year.
Speaking exclusively to the Irish Mirror Queally, said: "[A fight by the end of the year] is realistic.
"He's been struggling a little bit with a hand injury, which has been well documented in the media, so it's hard to tell, but it's definitely realistic that he will fight by the end of the year.
"If he wants to fight by the end of the year, he will fight by the end of the year."
When asked if he gets the feeling from McGregor that a 2019 bout will happen, Queally replied "Yes."
Queally owns the Naas branch of John Kavanagh's SBG Ireland where Conor trains.
Sources close to the camp have revealed to Irish Mirror that McGregor is 'hellbent' on returning before the new year.
The source said: "There was suggestion Conor might never fight again. That looked a real possibility with at all he has going on outside the Octagon at the minute.
"But that has slowly changed recently and Conor is now hellbent on fighting again before the end of the year.
"With him being the draw he is, there are endless possibilities for him - across both boxing and MMA - but he wants Khabib in a rematch... He feels he has the beating of the Russian.
"There is also [Nate] Diaz 3, Tony Ferguson, Poirier rematch. He won't be shy of offers and he has that fire there to jump into the cage again. It's just in his nature."
SBG Ireland supremo Kavanagh also told Irish Mirror at the Bellator press conference that the former two-weight world champion is 'fixing his paw' and that afterwards they will 'get back together', but offered no update on fight news.
UFC President Dana White has appeared to rule out McGregor facing the winner of Khabib Nurmagomedov's next title defence against Dustin Poirier, but the potential Pay-Per-View sales numbers of a McGregor-Khabib rematch could convince the fight promoter to reconsider.
Tickets for Bellator Dublin are on sale now through Ticketmaster.ie and Bellator.com , as well as the 3Arena box office.
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