UFC president Dana White says Conor McGregor will likely headline a card upon his return, depending on whom he fights.
McGregor has been sidelined since breaking his tibia against Dustin Poirier in July.
The Irishman stayed in Los Angeles with his family whilst recovering from his injury, but has since returned to Ireland and has started to hit pads again.
McGregor's last ten UFC fights have all been headline acts, with his 2014 fight against Poirier marking the last fight which wasn't.
And White was questioned if McGregor would still headline a card given his recent losses when he returns next year.
"He's still one of the top ten guys in the world. I mean, he's still one of the top ten best guys in the world," he told Pardon My Take.
"It would depend on who he's fighting but yeah, Conor [McGregor] coming back is a headliner."
McGregor has been involved in all five of the highest-selling UFC pay-per-view events, bolstering his status as the promotion's biggest star.
His grudge match against Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229 in 2018 currently holds the No.1 spot with a huge 2.4million buys.
Although official figures haven't been released yet, McGregor's trilogy with Poirier will likely take the No.2 slot with a projected 1.8m buys
McGregor's rematches with Poirier and Nate Diaz both sold 1.6m buys, whilst his 40-second KO of Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 is fifth on the list at 1.3m.
The Irishman finds himself ranked at No. 9 in the UFC lightweight rankings, despite not winning a fight at the weight class since November 2016.
He has lost three of his last four fights, being stopped by Poirier twice and Nurmagomedov whilst his win against Cerrone came in between those losses.
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The 33-year-old was scheduled to take part in a wheelchair boxing match against comedian Al Foran in September but was forced to withdraw on the advice of his doctor.
McGregor confirmed on Monday the fight is back on and he is started training for the charity fight.
He wrote on Twitter : "Today we start preparation for my wheelchair boxing match in aid of the Irish Wheelchair Association!
"Real excited to get in and have some fun and bust the eyeball of the celebrity impersonator, Al Foran.
"Al you can be Pacino! Joe Pesci! Even big Tyson Fury! But you still just fat Al from Tallaght to me."
McGregor has been linked with fights against the likes of Max Holloway, Tony Ferguson and Michael Chandler upon his UFC return.
