McGregor gives timeline for UFC return, talks potential opponents Chandler, Usman and Diaz

Former two-division champion currently recovering from double fracture sustained in last bout

Conor McGregor is carried off on a stretcher following an injury suffered against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor after suffering an injury.

Conor McGregor moves in for a hit against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264.

Conor McGregor lands a hit against Dustin Poirier.

Conor McGregor following his ankle injury.

Former US President Donald Trump attends UFC 264.

Conor McGregor has provided fans with an update on his possible return to the octagon.

The former two-division champion, 33, has not competed since fracturing his left tibia and fibula against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July.

In a Twitter Q&A early Sunday, McGregor said he will be cleared to return to mixed martial arts sparring by April, with his next appearance in the UFC to then be “imminent”.

"I will be full mixed martial arts sparring by April," the Irishman tweeted. "Easily! By then a return will be imminent. But I must be patient. I will beat this!"

McGregor, 33, lost his trilogy bout against Poirier by doctor’s stoppage at the end of the first round in Las Vegas. He has since said he had multiple stress fractures going into the clash at T Mobile Arena.

Beforehand, in January, McGregor was defeated in his rematch with Poirier, seven years in the making, at UFC 257 in Abu Dhabi. The second-round TKO represented the first knockout loss of his professional MMA career.

Last week, McGregor tweeted that he would be fighting whoever is the lightweight champion at the time of his return. Poirier challenges current belt-holder Charles Oliveira at UFC 269 on December 11 in Las Vegas.

On Sunday, during his online Q&A, McGregor praised former Bellator champion Michael Chandler despite his defeat to Justin Gaethje at this month’s UFC 268, while he also questioned welterweight champion Kamaru Usman’s credentials following his successful title defence against Colby Covington on the same card. McGregor has recently cited both Chandler and Usman as potential future opponents.

Ireland's Conor McGregor leaves the cage after defeating USA's Marcus Brimage in their UFC fight at the Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on April 6, 2013.

Conor McGregor kicks Max Holloway in their featherweight bout at TD Garden on August 17, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Conor McGregor leaves the ring after beating Brazil's Diego Brandao in their featherweight bout at the UFC Fight Night at the O2 in Dublin.

Conor McGregor punches Dustin Poirier in their featherweight bout during the UFC 178 event on September 27, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Conor McGregor celebrates with girlfriend Dee Devlin after defeating Chad Mendes during their interim featherweight title mixed martial arts bout at UFC 189 on July 11, 2015, in Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor reacts after defeating Jose Aldo for the UFC featherweight title in Las Vegas in 2015.

Conor McGregor meets fans at a Reebok UFC Combat Gear retail event held at Lifestyle Sports on October 22, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland.

Nate Diaz applies a choke hold to win by submission against Conor McGregor during UFC 196 on Sunday morning in Las Vegas in 2016.

UFC president Dana White speaks beside an empty chair where Conor McGregor was supposed to sit during a news conference for UFC 200 on April 22, 2016, in Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor punches Nate Diaz during their welterweight bout at UFC 202 on August 20, 2016, in Las Vegas.

Conor McGregor holds up his title belts after he defeated Eddie Alvarez during a lightweight title bout at UFC 205 on November 13, 2016, at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Conor McGregor celebrates his UFC 202 victory during the official after-fight party at Intrigue Nightclub at Wynn Las Vegas on August 20, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Floyd Mayweather Jr lands a hit against Conor McGregor during their boxing match at the T-Mobile Arena on August 27, 2017.

Conor McGregor attends his after fight party and his Wynn Nightlife residency debut at the Encore Beach Club on August 27, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Conor McGregor works out at the UFC Performance Center in Las Vegas on August 11, 2017.

Conor McGregor looks on as money rains down during the Floyd Mayweather Jr. v Conor McGregor world press tour event on July 13, 2017 in New York City.

Conor McGregor poses with his partner Dee upon arrival to attend the world premiere of the documentary film 'Conor McGregor: Notorious' at the Savoy Cinema in Dublin, Ireland, on November 1, 2017.

Italian designer Donatella Versace, British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton and Conor McGregor at the British Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert Hall in London on December 4, 2017.

Conor McGregor at the British Fashion Awards in London on December 4, 2017.

Conor McGregor walks out of the 78th police precinct after charges were laid against him following a late night melee in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on April 6, 2018.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Conor McGregor.

Khabib Nurmagomedov, left, punches Conor McGregor during their UFC 229 clash which he won on October 7, 2018.

Conor McGregor during St. Patrick's Day in Chicago on March 16, 2019.

UFC fighter Conor McGregor kicks around a football on the field prior to the start of Super Bowl LIII between the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on February 3, 2019.

Conor McGregor during the Super Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on February 3, 2019.

Conor McGregor at the 62nd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, on January 26, 2020,

Conor McGregor arriving at Fight Island ahead of his UFC 257 bout with Dustin Poirier on January 18, 2021. Courtesy UFC

Conor McGregor on board a luxury yacht in Abu Dhabi ahead of his fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 earlier this year. @TheNotoriousMMA / Twitter

Dustin Poirier punches Conor McGregor in a lightweight fight during UFC 257 at the Etihad Arena on January 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi.

Conor McGregor moves in for a hit against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena.

Conor McGregor is carried off a stretcher following an injury suffered against Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena on Jul 10, 2021 in Las Vegas,

Conor McGregor at Archies Burger and Shakes in Manchester.

Conor McGregor out and about in New York in 2018.

On Chandler, the former featherweight and lightweight champion tweeted: “Hard not to be impressed. In a game of inches he has been incredibly close each time! Could well be today’s champion."

Referencing Usman-Covington, McGregor wrote: “Thought Colby lumped him up nice last fight. Finished stronger. Without that 2nd round knockdown it’s Colby’s fight [in my opinion]. If even still. I see many holes. As well as a suspect dome. I fancy it greatly for the treble.”

Meanwhile, McGregor also said a trilogy bout with Nate Diaz is “1 billion per cent! A must!” The hugely popular rivalry, which played out across five months in 2016, stands at 1-1.