But it could easily be a whiskey roadshow, a boxing exhibition, or another court hearing. Or just nothing. McGregor dropping hints is nothing new, and fans and hate-watchers have been left hanging before.

If it is indeed a UFC bout, it will not be in Dublin on December 14, because UFC 245 in Las Vegas is booked for the same day.

More likely, it increasingly seems, a rematch with Dustin Poirier (25-6) could be next for McGregor. On Tuesday night, “The Notorious” posted a picture of him hammering the American’s head on the canvas in their September 2014 fight, accompanied by an emoji of a microphone.

Ben Askren says Conor McGregor needs to ‘shut up and fight’ after Poirier put down

The rematch make senses – not least because they are No 2 and No 3 in the lightweight rankings. Former interim lightweight champion Poirier has greatly improved his technical sharpness since their first fight, which was at featherweight. Both men have a point to prove, too, after tapping to Khabib’s chokes.

But who better for McGregor to aim his smart quips and infuriating mind-games at than fresh title contender Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje?

The iron-fisted, all-or-nothing American is now 21-2 after convincingly knocking out Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 158 in Vancouver on Saturday.

“The Irishman is retired. I want a real fighter. I want the winner of Tony and Khabib”, Gaethje said in the Octagon. But he backtracked in a post-fight interview with ESPN, saying he “absolutely would love to fight him”.

Of course he would. Not least because of the payday, but Gaethje has also called out McGregor’s questionable character, as a “s*** human, husband and father”.

McGregor’s list of controversies both in and out of the cage is as long as his 74-inch reach. “He punched an old man in the face. I wanna f*** him up for that,” Gaethje added to ESPN.

Gaethje is certainly worthy of a title shot. Since 2018, he has steamrollered through Edson Barboza, James Vick and Cerrone. All three ended in first-round knockouts. Sound familiar?

Before his recent knockout streak, however, Gaethje lost to Poirier and now-One Championship star Eddie Alvarez. McGregor has comfortably beaten both. The odds are in the Irishman’s favour.

Stylistically, this opponent is perfect for McGregor to perform his magic. The only fears are Gaethje’s relentless forward pressure and unfathomable durability.

But to Gaethje’s iron head and peekaboo-boxing, McGregor has a time-shifting left piston of a hook; to Gaethje’s low-slicing leg kicks, McGregor has his unique front-push kick; to Gaethje’s All-American collegiate-level wrestling, McGregor has four rounds of experience with a Dagestani bear. But let’s face it – neither will want to bring the fight to the ground.

This is McGregor’s best chance to emerge from the flames as a mixed martial artist rather than a pay-per-view star. The argument is not whether his future fights will make money – because they will. It is whether he is still relevant in the lightweight division.

He is not going to get the Khabib (28-0) rematch because the overwhelming public demand is for the champion to face Tony Ferguson (25-3). It just seems right that the MMA stars will finally align after four previous failed attempts at making the fight.

Fighting Cerrone or Frankie Edgar would do nothing for his ranking, whereas Al Iaquinta would be a step backwards.

The Nate Diaz trilogy is unlikely because the Stockton welterweight’s attention is on the UFC’s first gimmick belt – and as if McGregor would encroach on the 170-pound division again.

If McGregor truly is preparing for an MMA comeback, then it must be Gaethje.

If he loses, he will have lost to the next-in-line for a lightweight title shot. His ranking will probably fall by a place or two but the damage is controlled.

If McGregor wins, then he has climbed the ladder to Khabib or Ferguson, and the redemption tale is on.