UFC CEO Dana White confirmed that Conor McGregor has submitted paperwork to re-enroll in the USADA testing pool.
Following Saturday’s UFC Vegas 80 event inside The APEX, White spoke with members of the media and addressed a recent report that the Irishman had re-enrolled in the UFC’s anti-doping program. White clarified that McGregor was not yet officially back in the testing pool, but the paperwork had been submitted for his re-enrollment which could be completed as early as Monday.
“He is not officially in the USADA pool. He submitted the paperwork,” White said. “Probably by Monday (October 9) he’ll be submitted. Again, don’t hold me to that, but the paperwork is submitted. Next week sometime.”
That should come as a fantastic bit of news for Conor McGregor fans as the former two-time titleholder had seemingly been ducking re-entry for the last several months. Now the only question that remains is, when will the Irishman actually step back inside the Octagon?
Will Conor McGregor Return at UFC 300?
McGregor will be required to go through six months of pre-fight screening through USADA which puts him on track for a return to the Octagon in April 2024. Coincidentally, that puts him on track for a return around the same time fans expect the promotion’s third centennial event, UFC 300, to go down.
Asked if a UFC 300 return is being considered for McGregor, White added that at this time, they are making no immediate plans.
“I literally have nothing planned with Conor McGregor right now,” White revealed. “The paperwork is being submitted. We’ll play it by ear and see how things work out. There’s still a lot of things that have to happen as far as fights go, and then we’ll decide where he’s going to land.”
Dana White says Conor McGregor is not officially in the USADA testing pool. He submitted the paperwork and should be in next week sometime.#UFC pic.twitter.com/DoCZQVdXBr
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) October 8, 2023
Though no official details have been revealed, McGregor has remained adamant that his first opponent back will be ex-Bellator MMA champion ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler.
During a recent appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Chandler suggested that his matchup with McGregor appeared to be lining up for UFC 300 next year, finally giving us a timeline for when we could potentially see the Irishman return to the Octagon.
Watch Michael Chandler’s full appearance on The MMA Hour below:
