Michael Chandler is starting to wonder if he won’t be getting his red panty night. Chandler is far from alone in wondering where Conor McGregor went. The pair, coaching opposite teams on this year’s season of The Ultimate Fighter, are supposedly set to clash before the end of the year.
Despite this, this week saw the deadline for McGregor to enter the USADA testing pool in order to fight in 2023 fly by, with no comment from the former two-division champ.
Michael Chandler Joins Chorus Of Conor McGregor Doubters: “Where You At, Boy?”
Chandler took his frustration to Twitter: “Alright guys, you guys have all seen the news.
Conor’s not in USADA. A hundred and seventy nine days left until Dec. 16, which is supposed to be the last pay-per-view of the year. Comically, USADA shows up at my door today to add insult to injury.
Where you at, boy?”Now that McGregor has officially missed the mandatory six-month period mandated by USADA, his return from a two-year layoff is cast even further into doubt. McGregor left the USADA testing pool after breaking his leg in a loss to Dustin Poirier in June 2021.
Of course, if anyone will receive an exemption from the usual rules, it’s Conor McGregor. There is a possibility that the UFC “may grant an exemption,” although the rules about qualify for an exemption are unclear beyond “exceptional circumstances.”
“An Athlete who gives notice of retirement to UFC, or has otherwise ceased to have a contractual relationship with UFC due to Athlete-Initiated Inactivity, may not resume competing in UFC Bouts until he/she has given UFC written notice of his/her intent to resume competing and has made him/herself available for Testing for a period of six months before returning to competition.
UFC may grant an exemption to the six-month written notice rule in exceptional circumstances or where the strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to an Athlete provided that in either instance the Athlete provides a minimum of two negative Samples before returning to competition.”
Most commentators at this point doubt McGregor’s intention to return to competition. His two-year layoff, including recovery from a brutal injury, and the Irish superstar’s enormous wealth hardly create a picture of serious incentive.
McGregor remains one of the highest-earning athletes in the world, despite the fact that he has not competed in any sport in almost two years.
Only time will tell, but it’s not looking likely for McGregor fans.
