UFC 300 takes place in Las Vegas on April 13Credit: UFC

MMA fans expected Conor McGregor’s comeback fight against Michael Chandler to headline the cardCredit: GETTY

UFC president Dana White insists McGregor was never an option to top the 300 cardCredit: GETTY

McGregor, 35, eyed top billing on the Sin City extravaganza in an emotional plea to the UFC brass to finalise his comeback date last October.

But despite all the stars seemingly aligning for a monster pay-per-view, the promotion never had any plans for their poster boy’s long-awaited return to take place on UFC 300.

When asked if McGregor was an option to main event the card, White emphatically replied: “No.”

McGregor is champing at the bit to get back in the octagon after recovering from the horrific leg break he suffered in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.

But the Irishman’s recent claim that he’ll be back in June was shot down by White, leading some to suggest a contract stand-off being the stumbling block for his return.

That notion has emphatically been denied by White, who insisted: ” “Conor McGregor has probably been one of the best business partners we’ve ever had.

“Getting Conor to show up to s**t on time is a problem.

“But Conor, as far as the business goes, everybody talks about how Conor used to be on the dole and all this stuff.

“For a guy that was on the dole, Conor McGregor is a very good businessman, and Conor McGregor has always been a great partner to us.

‘There’s never any hanging out and haggling for money or, you know, ‘You pay me more money.’

“Conor McGregor has never done anything even remotely close to that. It’s the exact opposite.”

McGregor has posted several videos of himself sparring in recent weeks and seems ready to begin a full training camp, although White still has his doubts.

He told Kevin Iole: “Only Conor knows [when he’s ready].

“These are questions for Conor McGregor, not me. I know he’s training. I don’t know what level of training he’s doing.

“I don’t know what level of kicking he’s doing right now. I don’t know any of that stuff.

“I need to know the guy’s in a full camp and he’s ready to go. Conor McGregor has a movie coming out.

“He’s got businesses that he’s built. It’s a completely different dynamic when you’re dealing with a guy that has this kind of money.”

Conor McGregor hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since breaking his leg nearly three years agoCredit: AP