Conor McGregor has mostly engaged in social media battles instead of actual ones in the Octagon as of late, with the two-division champion also suggesting that the UFC should “pay me my worth” before he comes back. If that was the main hurdle, it seems like they’re heading in the right direction for a UFC return.

MMA Fighting’s Dave Meltzer reported on his (subscription only) newsletter (HT: BodySlam.net) that discussions are going well for a return this year.

“The word is that negotiations with Conor McGregor are going well,” the veteran reporter wrote. “No deal to return has been inked but they are said to be not so far apart and are in talks about him doing two fights in 2018.”

The veteran reporter also mentioned that the match up would likely be against the winner of the upcoming lightweight title bout at UFC 223.

“All the pub right now is Mayweather under MMA rules but I can’t see Mayweather agreeing to that, even though it’s huge money,” Meltzer noted. “The UFC fight idea is the winner of Tony Ferguson vs. Khabib Nurmagomedov”

McGregor hasn’t competed in MMA since he won the lightweight title in 2016. His absence also set an unfortunate UFC record for longest time before attempting to defend a title.