Carlos Condit hasn’t been in the Octagon since March of 2014 when he suffered a nasty injury at the hands of Tyron Woodley that led to the former interim champion having to undergo ACL surgery.

Condit spoke to media members ahead of UFC 183 to discuss his timeline to return to the Octagon, as well as his thoughts on the welterweight title picture.

I don’t have a fight booked, but I already have a target date. I want to get into the card in May here in Vegas. I don’t think the headliner has been announced, but that’s my timeline. Rehab has been long and tedious but I’m back and I’m training at 100%.”

“We had a great great turnout at our event (in Manila). People were awesome. If they ask me about fighting there, I guess that’s close to when I want to be back, and I would entertain the idea. I would like to fight closer to home, and get a fight here in Vegas on May 23rd, but if that card comes up and they give me an opponent, then we’ll see.”

The night Condit injured his knee, the welterweight title was up for grabs as Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler squared off for the vacant strap. Hendricks ultimately ended up winning, but lost the belt later that year to Lawler in a rematch.

With the landscape of a packed welterweight division changing constantly, Condit gave his thoughts on the welterweight title picture:

“It’s exciting. There’s so many guys that look so good, I think that the belt might change hands quite a bit in a year or so… Rory (MacDonald) looks really good.”