McGregor says he's accepted Poirier fight, but it must be in 2020

Conor McGregor revealed Thursday that he has accepted the UFC's offer to fight Dustin Poirier, but it must happen before the end of 2020.

"I'm ready for Nov. 21, given that card's recent injury issues, as well as any of the December dates, the 12th and the 19th," McGregor tweeted. "I'll also still donate the $500,000 to The Good Fight Foundation."

Poirier told ESPN's Ariel Helwani on Thursday that he has no issue fighting McGregor in 2020.

McGregor, a former two-division champion, originally targeted a charity sparring match with Poirier on Dec. 12 in Dublin, Ireland. But UFC president Dana White said last week that he offered the two contenders a UFC fight following that development.

Poirier then hinted in a tweet that he was open to fighting McGregor in the Octagon. The promotion was reportedly targeting the contest for Jan. 23, 2021.

UFC 256 on Dec. 12 needs a new main event after the postponement of Kamaru Usman versus Gilbert Burns. Additionally, UFC 255's headliner was changed after Cody Garbrandt fell out of his flyweight title bout against Deiveson Figueiredo due to an injury. Alex Perez filled in and will now challenge Figueiredo on Nov. 21.

McGregor was recently involved in a public spat with White over whether the Irishman wanted to compete earlier in 2020. "The Notorious" released screenshots of direct messages between him and White from earlier this year. White called the move "one of the dirtiest things you can do."

McGregor hasn't stepped into the cage since January, when he beat Donald Cerrone in 40 seconds. The superstar initially planned to fight three times in 2020, but the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to those plans.