Conor McGregor has told Michael Chandler to be patient after confirmation that their proposed fight won't take place this year. 

The two fighters has been expected to step into the Octagon to headline UFC 296 on December 16, but the main event for that show has been confirmed by Dana White to be Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington, leaving McGregor's return in limbo. 

However, the Irishman has insisted his comeback will be against Chandler and has warned the 37-year-old to be patient because the match will still happen. 

'Yes, it has to be,' McGregor told All Out Fighting as he still stated Chandler will definitely be his opponent, whenever his return fight is made. 

'Chandler, sit down and wait and shut your mouth, yeah? The Mac will be here soon. [I'm] en route. En route, son. En route. It's imminent. It's imminent.'

 McGregor hasn't stepped in the Octagon since his horrific leg break during a trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021, but is believed to be back fit, in shape and ready to return. 

Yet, UFC CEO Dana White, has said there is no plans for the fight this year. Stating earlier this week;  'I got nothing on either one of those guys right now. I've been saying for a while, next year is when Conor's going to fight.

'And then obviously, if Chandler gets antsy, then we'll figure something out.' 

Chandler was last in action back in November last year, when he was defeated by Dustin Poirier at UFC 281, but has also confirmed he is raring to go for a match with 'Notorious'. 

The pair were both part of The Ultimate Fighter series earlier this year, where they almost came to blows, leading to excitement that a fight between McGregor and Chandler wasn't far off from happening. 

Before December's event, UFC 295 in New York in November will see Jon Jones defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic, with Jiri Prochazka against Alex Pereira in the co-main event.