Conor McGregor recently claimed he’d fight Michael Chandler on June 29Credit: GETTY

UFC president and CEO Dana White recently shot down talk of the fight being finalisedCredit: GETTY

White has now claimed he expects The Notorious to return in the autumnCredit: GETTY

UFC president and chief executive White, however, was quick to pour cold water on talk of the Irishman’s return being finalised.

And the veteran promoter has claimed the UFC’s poster boy won’t be back in action until the AUTUMN at the earliest.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, White said: “Hopefully this year. There is no date.

“I’m hoping for the fall, [hopefully] we get it done in the fall.”

MMA fans were quick to react to White’s bombshell, with one saying: “Fall?? Winter??. 2025?? 2026? Never. Poor Chandler.”

Another said: “What’s going on?”

And another said: “This fight isn’t happening, is it?”

One remarked: “It’s been almost a year since TUF filmed already!”

Another chimed in: “FALL? Damn, Chandler really is going to wait for a fight that might not even sell by that point.”

Former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Chandler was announced as McGregor’s comeback opponent a YEAR AGO but their clash has yet to come to fruition.

But White recently hinted the fan favourite isn’t guaranteed to welcome the Dubliner back to the cage.

He told SportsNet: “So McGregor will be back this year – possibly him and Chandler.

“We’ll see how this whole thing plays out.”

McGregor, 35, hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his left leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

And the former two-division champion is growing restless at the apparent delaying of his return.

Along with a video of himself and Chandler going back and forth during The Ultimate Fighter 31, he wrote on his Instagram story earlier this week: “Get this f***ing date set.”

McGregor has been champing at the bit to fight again after successfully undergoing a painstaking rehab after his career-threatening injury.

And he made an emotional plea to the UFC brass over his eagerly-anticipated return last October.

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.”

Conor McGregor hasn’t fought since breaking his foot nearly three years agoCredit: AP