Conor McGregor teases imminent UFC return ahead of court case: 'See you soon'

McGregor, 29, hasn’t set foot inside the cage since his historic UFC 205 victory over Eddie Alvarez, a triumph which saw him become the first fighter in the promotion’s history to hold two titles simultaneously.

A staggering 18 months have passed since that historic night at Madison Square Garden, and the Irishman - whose last outing was a multi-million-pound boxing match against Floyd Mayweather Jr - has shown little sign of returning to action anytime soon.

However, judging from his recent Instagram post, he’s more than ready to return to the cage.

On Wednesday afternoon, 'The Notorious', who was relieved of the lightweight title last month, uploaded a picture of himself shadowboxing in a plush get-up.

The snap’s accompanying caption read: “Keep your dukes up when you see me. See you soon.”

Although McGregor has suggested we could see him back inside the cage in near future, it’s highly unlikely he’ll fight anytime soon.

McGregor was charged with three counts of assault and one count of criminal mischief for his actions, which resulted in Ray Borg and Michael Chiesa picking up eye and facial injuries.

Ireland's first UFC belt holder is due in court on June 14 to explain his actions.

And according to UFC president Dana White, the progression of the lightweight division hinges on the punishment McGregor receives for his latest misdemeanour. 

“Well let me put it this way: Ferguson isn’t going to be back until, probably, October… if everything goes perfect for him after his surgery,” White said during an appearance on the UFC Unfiltered podcast when discussing what could be next for new lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“Then you’ve got Alvarez-Poirier. We’ll see how this thing plays out legally for Conor. Conor has to show up in New York and handle his legal mess.”

Prior to his rampage in Brooklyn, McGregor was said to be hell-bent on returning to the cage before year’s end.

“We can’t really talk about when he wants to return,” McGregor’s striking coach Owen Roddy recently told Express Sport. “But he’s adamant he’s getting back. But for me, the sooner (he’s back) the better.

The UFC is really missing Conor, I believe. And I think everybody is missing the whole extravaganza of a Conor McGregor fight. There’s nothing like it in the world.

“And I think the people in the world want to see it again. The sooner the better.”

McGregor's first fight back in mixed martial arts' premier promotion could very well see him lock horns with Nurmagomedov, who claimed the lightweight title last month in the main event of UFC 223.