The UFC's lightweight champion hasn't set foot inside the Octagon since claiming the 155lbs crown at UFC 205 in November 2016. 

McGregor has a plethora of fighters vying to be the man to welcome him back to mixed martial arts, most notably interim UFC lightweight champion Tony Ferguson. 

Undefeated Dagestan native Khabib Nurmagomedov is also in the mix following a dominant victory over Edson Barboza at UFC 219 and a public back-and-forth with 'The Notorious'. 

A trilogy fight with Nate Diaz is also in the offing for McGregor but is unlikely at this moment in time. 

As has been the case since his unforgettable UFC 194 victory over Jose Aldo, the MMA world is well and truly at McGregor's feet. 

And this moment in time, Ireland's first UFC belt holder is currently weighing up all the options available to him. 

"He’s making the decision on what makes sense for the next move," Kavanagh told BBC Northern Ireland. 

"It’s kind of early days yet, we’re just watching how that has developed while he’s been away, he’s had other things on. 

"Let’s see what happens in 2018, I’m excited about it anyway.”

A few weeks ago, the UFC brass were hopeful of having McGregor return to the cage in the spring.

But according to the promotion’s president Dana White, the trash-talking Irishman wants to return to in the summer.

“I don’t think Conor wants to fight until August,” White told Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole. 

“If he waits until August or September, that’s around two years since the belt has been defended and that can’t happen.”