LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 5: Conor McGregor exits the Octagon after his fight against Nate Diaz in their welterweight bout during the UFC 196 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on March 5, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

Conor McGregor makes UFC future clear ahead of $100 million bout with Floyd Mayweather

Will we see him in the octagon again?

Is Conor McGregor done with UFC?

No, his coach, John Kavanagh, said But he even went a step  further when he told The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani he expects McGregor could defend his lightweight title this year.

"I don't see any reason why he would not," Kavanagh said. "Certainly money would not be the reason why he would not do MMA again. He has said very clearly to me, 'Get ready, we're back in the cage in December.' I hope someone out there has sparked the interest in him to make him excited about that."

Kavanagh reiterated it's not the money that's a factor in fighting UFC again — especially since there's no way McGregor will come close to the $100 million he's expected to make when he boxes Floyd Mayweather on August 26 in Las Vegas. Kavanagh elaborated on the MMA Hour:

"It's the challenge. That's why he's in the gym laughing every day. If he left the gym now and stopped fighting, what would he do with his free time? You can only sit in one car at a time, you can only have one meal at a time. Eventually you want to do something that's enjoyable to you. And that would be Conor drifting back into the gym. It's what's enjoyable to him."

But first, there's the business of fighting Mayweather, the undefeated fighter widely acknowledged as the best in the world. That in and of itself will be a challenge.