CONOR MCGREGOR has hinted that talks over a new deal with the UFC have temporarily been shelved.

The Irishman entered the business end of his contract with mixed martial arts premier promotion after his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

Conor McGregor is approaching the end of his contract with the Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipCredit: AP

The Irishman has two fights left on his current contract with the promotionCredit: GETTY

The Notorious has hinted talks over a new deal with the MMA leader have been shelvedCredit: CHISANGA MALATA / THE SUN

McGregor, 36, was set to face Michael Chandler in June before he suffered a broken toeCredit: Getty

McGregor, 36, has TWO fights left on the lucrative contract he inked in the build-up to his grudge match with Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Positive talks over a new deal with the UFC brass were held before the cancellation of his June joust with Michael Chandler.

But The Notorious has seemingly suggested they’ve been put on the back burner.

He recently told SunSport: “You know, the fight never happened. So it’s just about getting the fight on.”

Former two-division champion McGregor was due to face Chandler on June 29 in the main event of UFC 303 in Las Vegas.

A broken left pinky toe in one of his final sparring sessions before heading out to Sin City, however, scuppered the eagerly-anticipated Return of the Mac.

But the Dubliner insists it won’t be long before he’s fighting fit again.

“I’m good, very good,” he said before pointing to his injured foot. “I’m a [shoe] size up right now.

“I’m back in running runners. I can run, I can box.

“These shoes a little bit tricky to get into – I just went up a size.

“But I’m good, my man. I’m well on my bike, I’m well on track.”

It’s understood Dana White and Co. are targeting December for McGregor’s return – a timeline the UFC’s poster boy likes.

When asked about potentially closing out the promotion’s pay-per-view calendar, he said: “That sounds good to me.

“That sounds good to me brother.”

UFC 310 – which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 7 – will bring the curtain down on the promotion’s 2024 pay-per-view schedule.

And UFC President and CEO White hinted at an imminent fight announcement for McGregor earlier this week.

The 54-year-old said: “Conor news coming up, we’ve got Oliveira news coming up, we’ve got Chandler news coming up.

“All that good s**t. Coming soon.”

McGregor and Chandler were quick to add more fuel to the fire, with the former tweeting a winking emoji on his X account.

Former three-time Bellator lightweight champion Chandler, meanwhile, said: “I can’t wait until you see what we have cooking.”