It feels like any day now Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon will be confirmed. At post-fight press conference after Dern vs Hill on Saturday night, UFC president Dana White confirmed that the official announcement of a date for Conor McGregor vs Michael Chandler will come during the airing of this season of The Ultimate Fighter.
“That’s correct [there will be an announcement during the airing of The Ultimate Fighter]. There’s a fight. He has to get into the USADA pool first. He’s filling out the paperwork. I don’t know how soon that will be done or what’s going on, but that’s his business, that he’s handling with USADA. But it’s all in motion.”
UFC President Dana White Confirms McGregor vs Chandler “In Motion”
First, said White, McGregor must return to the USADA testing pool. The Irish superstar will need to stay in the USADA testing pool for a minimum period of time, most likely six months, before being allowed to fight.
McGregor left the testing pool two years ago while recovering from a leg injury. McGregor’s leg broke under the bright lights of the Octagon two years ago, in the trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier. “The Notorious” was carried out of the arena on a stretcher, required surgery, and has spent the last two years recovering from the brutal injury.
It is widely speculated – although not confirmed – that McGregor has taken some kind of supplement or substance to aid in his recovery.
Most observers point to the former featherweight champion’s noticeably bulked-up physique as evidence of some kind of PED consumption, although McGregor himself has yet to comment on the matter.
If Conor McGregor’s USADA testing period begins as soon as White insists it will, fight fans may well get the chance to see the sport’s biggest name compete by the end of the year.
Dana White all but confirmed this timeline at the press conference, acknowledging that the UFC wants to put on two major shows in November and December, respectively, including a possible outing at Madison Square Garden.
“That’s what we’re shooting for. Hopefully we have a big fight in Madison Square Garden in November, and then a big fight in December.”
As for The Ultimate Fighter, which will see McGregor coaching one team opposite Michael Chandler, the new series of the UFC reality TV show airs May 30.
Do you think we’ll see Conor McGregor fight again this year? Will the comeback go as planned? Let us know in the comments.
