Conor McGregor UFC News: Notorious lifts weights and trains boxing ahead of Cerrone fight

The Irishman returns to the octagon on January 18th

Conor McGregor has geared up his training as his UFC return date draws ever closer.

The Irishman is expected to return to the octagon on January 18th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against legendary MMA fighter Donald 'Cowboy' Cerrone .

And the ex-two weight world title holder has taken to Instagram to share a number of photos showing his intensive preparation, that includes weight lifting in his gym and boxing rounds at Crumlin Boxing Club.

Posting yesterday, he revealed that he had just done almost an hour of sparring at the famous boxing gym, saying: "14 rounds completed today at the School of Excellence, Crumlin Boxing Club."

And later 'The Notorious' shared photos of himself and trainers as he pushed himself to lift weights as part of his 'McGregor FAST' training programe.

McGregor is expected to turn his sights to Jorge Masvidal if he defeats Donald Cerrone in January. 

This is the according to UFC chief Dana White who has also not ruled out a rematch between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov in the new year.

White told 101.6FM in Washington: "Conor has told me he definitely wants a fight with Masvidal, so we'll see what happens."

McGregor will make his long-awaited return against Cerrone on January 18 - over a year since his loss to lightweight king Nurmagomedov in Las Vegas. 

And White sees a scenario where the Crumlin man could get the rematch he craves against the Russian in 2020.

"A couple of things have got to happen first; he's got to beat 'Cowboy' Cerrone which is a very tough fight, especially at 170 without 'Cowboy' having to cut weight. 

"Then Khabib has to beat Tony Ferguson. If both of those things happen then yeah I think we can make the rematch. 

"[McGregor] would rather take that fight right now and not fight 'Cowboy', he wants that fight really bad.

"In reality Rich it would be the biggest pay per view ever in the history of the sport."

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