Conor McGregor is set to be back inside the Octagon after signing a contract to fight next year for UFC 246. “The Notorious” will face Donald Cerrone on Jan. 18 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

According to Brett Okamoto of ESPN, McGregor and Cerrone will meet at welterweight, which “ was likely done to ensure McGregor has a smooth training and weight cut after such a long layoff. ”

“Cerrone’s representatives say he has agreed to the bout and signed a new exclusive deal with the UFC,” Okamoto added.

UFC President Dana White confirmed the news to ESPN, "Conor has signed and Cowboy is ready to go."

McGregor, a former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion, last fought in October 2018 where the Irish superstar lost to a 4th round submission to the undefeated Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.

The 36-year-old Cerrone, meanwhile, will enter the bout coming off two consecutive defeats he suffered from Justin Gaethje and Tony Ferguson. His storied MMA career will be stretched as he is reported to have signed a multi-fight extension from the UFC prior to the confirmation of this card.

The “Cowboy” last fought at the 170-lb weight class in November last year where he forced Mike Perry to a first-round submission at UFC Denver. He holds a 6-4 win-loss tally in the welterweight division and 36-13-1 overall.

Conor McGregor, on the other hand, will banner his 21-win record in 25 fights including an earth-shattering 18 victories via knockout. Prior to this announcement, he was rumored to be targeting a rematch with Nurmagomedov, but reports say the Russian fighter will take on Ferguson instead.

The 31-year-old MMA icon is looking to snap a three-year winning dry spell, although he went on a full-year break in 2019. He last won a UFC fight in November 2016 where he defeated Eddie Alvarez via knockout in UFC 205.

The first quarter of 2020 will be festive for UFC fans as Valentina Shevchenko and Jon Jones are set to defend their respective belts against Katlyn Chookagian and Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February.

Conor McGregor has apologised for his unprovoked attack on a man in a Dublin pub
Conor McGregor GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Ethan Miller