The UFC’s poster boy hasn’t set foot inside the Octagon since claiming the lightweight title in the main event of UFC 205, a card where he became the promotion’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion. McGregor’s 20-month-long hiatus is set to end later this year and he’s expected to be welcomed back to the cage by Khabib Nurmagomedov, the new ruler of the 155lbs division. Although it seems that we’re close to seeing McGregor back in action, questions over his future in mixed martial arts as a whole remain. Given the fact McGregor has been on the sidelines for nearly two years, many believe his days competing in MMA are numbered.

Conor McGregor looks on after a training session at SBG Ireland

Conor McGregor bus attack in pictures Sun, April 8, 2018 View the gallery to see how the shocking incident unfolded. Play slideshow TMZ/MEGA 1 of 8 Conor McGregor and his entourage going berserk

Gareth A Davies of the Daily Telegraph agrees with that notion and believes ‘The Notorious’ will grace the cage three more times before bringing down the curtain on his days as a professional fighter. “John Kavanagh was there with Will Fleury and John was saying to me, ‘It might look like Conor’s all into his bling and showing (off) his card and getting his cars deported and having to go to New York for his court case’,” Davies said during an appearance on the Off The Ball Podcast when discussing Bellator’s recent show in Italy. “He’s got that, of course, late next week. So once that’s happened we’ll know when he’s back.

I think we'll see at least three more fights before he retires Gareth A Davies on Conor McGregor's future

“But what John said and this is very significant and you’ve seen this in the photographs of Conor and the Instagrams he puts out, he’s in great shape. "John Kavanagh said, ‘He’s in SBG every single day he’s in Dublin. He is training very hard. He hasn’t given up the ghost yet.’ “He has got to come back. The way he spends money - that money is going to run out at some point.

Conor McGregor hasn't set foot inside the Octagon in over 20 months

"And the way that Tony McGregor is putting fuel in that speedboat all over Ireland - they are going to need more money. "He has got to come back. He has got to fight again. I think we'll see at least three more fights before he retires." Before McGregor can return to the Octagon, he must first resolve his ongoing legal issues - the result of his actions at the UFC 223 media day.

Conor McGregor is expected to be welcomed back to the Octagon by Khabib Nurmagomedov