CONOR McGREGOR has been issued a boxing licence and is said to be pursuing a "high-level opponent".
The Dubliner and one of UFC's highest-profile and biggest-earning figures has previously been linked to a fight with the now-retired boxer Floyd Mayweather. After McGregor's most recent victory in November against Eddie Alvarez to become the world's first simultaneous two-weight champion, he demanded a stake of the UFC company's ownership.
That came after he said he wanted $100million (£80million) to box the undefeated Mayweather in a glamorous - but perhaps uncompetitive - match-up earlier this year: "He got a licence and a federal ID," California State Athletic Commission executive officer Andy Foster said.
"He's a California boxer now. I'd love to see him fight in California. It just needs to be the right opponent. Certainly a high-level opponent. We're happy to license him."
The development may be interpreted as McGregor - who has vacated his two titles - attempting to force the UFC to submit to his demands, but it also follows his trainer John Kavanagh saying earlier this week that he would "put on few quid on [a Mayweather fight] next year".
"I'm not breaking any news saying that there's conversations going back and forth for the last year or so," he added.
"Is it getting any close? I don't know, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me that it's going to happen."
Mayweather, however, had previously said of the prospect of them fighting: "I'm an elephant. Elephants don't beef with ants."
Leonard Ellerbe of Mayweather Promotions had also told ESPN on Wednesday: "It's all a game, a calculated effort to gain more fans. Conor McGregor can say anything he wants to, but he has a boss and his name is [UFC president] Dana White."