Irish UFC fighter Conor McGregor has finally addressed the doubts surrounding his highly anticipated return to the octagon and the recent missed deadline for his drug test. McGregor had a clear message for all the skeptics.
Last week, the deadline for McGregor to re-enter the USADA drug testing program passed without any official announcement, leaving fans eager for answers about his upcoming fight against Michael Chandler. While there’s still a slim possibility that McGregor will join the program and appear in the sample database soon, it’s more likely that the UFC will grant him an exemption from the mandatory six-month testing requirement. This would allow him to participate in a major event scheduled for November or December. However, the UFC has remained tight-lipped about the situation, fueling speculation that McGregor may not make his much-anticipated comeback in 2023.
Team McGregor 🆚 Team Chandler 🔥
Who is excited for the return of TUF? 😍
📸: Conor McGregor pic.twitter.com/jw6sB3Ebjd
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) February 24, 2023
McGregor’s Message to Doubters
In a now-deleted tweet, McGregor addressed his fans and haters regarding his return. This assertive response aligns with the bold claims he made during the release of his Netflix documentary series, ‘McGregor Forever.’
“Placey Mcplacerson I am in the place. Ya’s’ll shut up and wait,” he wrote on Twitter. “Silence! A roar from the throne. Patience, peasants. Bring Proper Twelve, Forged Irish Stout, Tidl Sport. Bring me Gold and Plunder.”
Since his leg injury suffered in a fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021, McGregor has been absent from the UFC scene. The severity of the injury, which can be career-ending, prompted him to meticulously focus on his treatment and rehabilitation. In a surprising move, McGregor quietly removed himself from the USADA testing pool, a decision that raised eyebrows among fellow UFC athletes.
The big question remains: Is McGregor still recovering from his injury and unable to compete in 2023? Could he be pursuing treatments that may violate USADA regulations in his quest to make a full recovery? Unfortunately, concrete details are scarce, leaving us to speculate based on his lack of progress in rejoining the USADA program and the absence of a confirmed fight date against Michael Chandler.
McGregor has promised to make an announcement during the run of The Ultimate Fighter on ESPN, a show that will conclude on August 15th. Until then, both fans and critics alike will have to exercise patience, just as McGregor himself has emphasized.
In the midst of uncertainties surrounding McGregor’s return and the missed drug test deadline, the fighter has urged his fans to remain patient. The much-anticipated comeback, originally set to follow his leg injury in 2021, appears to have been delayed due to an ongoing dispute with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
According to regulations, McGregor, who is 34 years old, must undergo six months of random testing before being eligible to compete again. However, he has yet to re-enter the USADA testing pool, raising concerns about the status of his fight against Michael Chandler.
Chandler, a former three-time Bellator champion, has expressed his concerns in interviews and on social media, even receiving an alternative fight offer from Eddie Alvarez.
The UFC community shares the fans’ worries about McGregor’s fighting future. However, McGregor himself seemed confident, albeit in a now-deleted social media post, that his comeback fight will proceed as planned.
UFC President Dana White recently provided an update, stating that if McGregor is unable to participate in the upcoming UFC event, his return will likely take place in the first quarter of 2024. This sentiment is shared by long-time UFC commentator Jon Anik.
As the situation continues to develop, McGregor’s fans and the entire UFC community will have to patiently await further updates on his highly anticipated return to the octagon.
