Conor McGregor, the renowned Irish MMA fighter, may not make his highly anticipated return to the Octagon this year as he failed to meet the USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency) deadline. After a two-year absence, McGregor was expected to face off against Michael Chandler, another notable fighter, and potentially headline a pay-per-view event later in the year.
The prospect of McGregor’s comeback generated significant excitement among fans and garnered attention from the MMA community. UFC President Dana White had previously discussed the potential matchup. However, it now appears that this highly anticipated fight may not come to fruition.
The main reason for this uncertainty lies in the requirements set forth by the USADA. Any UFC fighter must enter the USADA testing pool at least six months before stepping into the Octagon. Following his leg injury in 2021, McGregor temporarily withdrew from the testing pool and has not undergone any recent tests.
Conor McGregor has 48 hours left to enter the USADA testing pool if he's going to fight at UFC 296 which is the final PPV of the year.
If he doesn't enter 6 month testing pool by Friday, he will not be fighting in 2023 per the rules of USADA. pic.twitter.com/0l8muMBHdv
— Verdict (@VerdictMMA) June 14, 2023
The USADA athlete test history was updated yesterday and did not include any samples submitted by Conor McGregor.
This does not necessarily mean that he has not re-enrolled in the program, however several inquiries made to USADA regarding his status that have gone unanswered.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) June 16, 2023
Concerns have arisen as McGregor has put on weight during his recovery, raising questions about his readiness for competition. The deadline for him to re-enroll in the testing program, in order to be eligible to fight this year, was June 16, 2023.
Conor McGregor’s USADA Testing Pool Dilemma
MMA Uncensored reports that McGregor has yet to enter the USADA testing pool, casting doubt on his scheduled bout against Michael Chandler. However, an official statement from the parties involved is still awaited, leaving fans in suspense.
Conor did not meet USADA deadline for a test sample. As a result, he is unable to fight in 2023 and his fight vs Michael Chandler may never happen. pic.twitter.com/eKRbuLeObU
— MMA UNCENSORED (@MMAUNCENSORED1) June 20, 2023
The potential absence of McGregor’s return to the Octagon would be a disappointment to many fans eagerly anticipating his comeback. It would also impact Michael Chandler, who has been diligently preparing for what could have been one of the most significant fights of his career. Nevertheless, if the McGregor-Chandler matchup fails to materialize, Chandler may have other viable opponents waiting for him inside the cage.
Face/Off pic.twitter.com/HVV68XRQNq
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) May 13, 2023
One such fighter who has recently expressed interest in facing Chandler is Arman Tsarukyan. Following a third-round knockout victory at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Tsarukyan, ranked eighth in the lightweight division, called out Chandler for a potential future fight. Tsarukyan emphasized that McGregor’s current situation makes him skeptical about their planned bout taking place this year.
Fans are now left to ponder the possibilities: Will Arman Tsarukyan get his desired matchup against Michael Chandler? And will Conor McGregor’s much-anticipated return to the Octagon be further delayed, potentially into next year? The answers to these questions will be revealed in due course, as the MMA world eagerly awaits updates from the fighters and the UFC.
