CONOR MCGREGOR will be stripped of his UFC lightweight title on Saturday - to let Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov fight for it – according to reports In Russia.

The Irish MMA legend has been missing from the octagon since claiming the 155lb title 14 months ago, allowing American Ferguson to clinch the interim belt.

5 Conor McGregor has been told he must defend his UFC lightweight title by March Credit: Getty

Now his boxing career looks over, McGregor has discussed an August return but UFC kingpin Dana White has said that is too late.

Russian site Tass claims a source close to the Dagestan fighter has revealed an April 7 showdown has been agreed and will happen in New York, with McGregor left empty handed.

The fight will allegedly get announced at the UFC show on Saturday night in Boston where Francis Ngannou challenges Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight belt.

Boston has a huge Irish crowd who will be gutted to learn their man has lost his gold – after being stripped of his featherweight belt also for inactivity.

5 Dana White has urged McGregor to get a move on if he wants to keep his belt Credit: Getty

5 The UFC kingpin says he does not think McGregor wants to fight until August Credit: AP:Associated Press

UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov trains by wrestling with a bear

Nurmagomedov vs Ferguson should have happened on March 5 but the Russian was hospitalised after a disastrous weight cut.

White’s most recent comments on McGregor’s MMA hiatus were: “I don’t think Conor wants to fight until August, but if he waits until August or September, that’s around two years since the belt has been defended, and that can’t happen.

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“Not only to the sport, but to the other fighters. This is game of time.

“Time is your enemy in this sport, or any other sport.

"When you’re a professional athlete, time is your enemy, and we can’t let this thing go on forever and not give other guys the opportunity.

“Tony Ferguson has been around for a long time and has earned his dues, Khabib has earned his dues, and the list goes on and on."

5 McGregor was last inside of a ring for his boxing loss to Floyd Mayweather Credit: USA Today Sports

5 Tony Ferguson is the interim champion in McGregor's absence Credit: Getty