UFC President Dana White has cast fresh doubt over Conor McGregor's return to the octagon, stating that the Irishman doesn't need to fight again.

McGregor, 35, has been rumored to face Michael Chandler in his comeback fight for almost a year, but the bout has yet to materialize.

Uncertainty Surrounds McGregor's Return

Despite McGregor's eagerness to get back in the cage and his desire to feature on the historic UFC 300 card in April, White admits that there are no guarantees of The Notorious fighting again.

White told TNT Sports, "At the end of the day, I say it all the time: Conor is extremely wealthy and has a lot of different options in his life. When Conor gets that hunger back and really wants to fight, it's all up to him."

White further praised McGregor's accomplishments, stating, "Conor can do whatever the hell Conor wants to do. And good for him."

Chandler Remains Hopeful

Although White poured cold water on the possibility of McGregor facing Chandler at UFC 300, the former Bellator champion is still optimistic about the matchup.

Chandler said on The MMA Hour, "The door opening for this fight with Conor, whenever it's finally supposed to be, will be. And I'm just being at peace in the midst of the waiting and sometimes at the lack of haste that it happened over the last year."

He added, "That would be a dream scenario [fighting McGregor at UFC 300]. Chandler vs. Conor is happening. I don't have a date or a location or a UFC number for you, but it's definitely going to happen next year."

McGregor's Lengthy Absence

McGregor has not stepped foot inside the octagon since his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier, where he broke his left leg, over two-and-a-half years ago.

While fans eagerly await McGregor's return, it remains to be seen when and against whom The Notorious will make his comeback.

UFC 296: Edwards v Covington will be exclusively live on TNT Sports Box Office on Saturday, 15 December. For more information, visit tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice.