With the window for Conor McGregor to fight in 2023 closing rapidly, former UFC heavyweight contender Mark Hunt wonders why the promotion won’t give him the same exemption that they gave to “cheating rat” Brock Lesnar.
Hunt, a former one-time UFC interim title contender, has been taking digs at the UFC for years following his decisive decision loss against former heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 in 2016. Less than a week removed from the bout, it was revealed that Lesnar had tested positive for a banned substance in a pre-fight drug test completed 28 days prior to the fight. Lesnar also tested positive for the same banned substance in a second, in-competition sample taken later that month.
As a result, the bout was overturned and dubbed a no-contest, but Hunt was left fuming over the situation and ultimately sued the UFC, claiming that the promotion and Dana White knew that Brock Lesnar had taken banned substances and let him fight anyway.
With Conor McGregor determined to return before 2023 comes to a close, the Irishman only has 24 hours to re-enter the USADA testing pool for a required six months of screening. With the hourglass running short on sand, Mark Hunt suggested that the UFC once again skirt the rules, just as they did for Brock Lesnar years ago.
“@danawhite why don’t u give @thenotoriousmma the same exemption u gave that baboon @brock._.lesnar or what ever this cheating rats insta is,” Hunt tweeted. “I wonder if the @ufc @danawhite is above the law ? What do u guys think ?”
@danawhite why don’t u give @thenotoriousmma the same exemption u gave that baboon @brock._.lesnar or what ever this cheating rats insta is 😎😎😎😎😎I wonder if the @ufc @danawhite is above the law ? What do u guys think ? pic.twitter.com/3ycKgbADkz
— mark richard hunt (@markhunt1974) June 15, 2023
Is Seeing Conor McGregor Compete in 2023 a Lost Cause?
Of course, Mark Hunt’s comment was not a serious suggestion, but more of an opportunity to take another dig at the promotion. However, McGregor once claimed that an exemption was his likeliest path back to the Octagon. The Irishman argued that he would only need to provide two clean samples before being cleared to return without the typically required six months of screening holding him back.
That possibility was quickly quelled by a representative for USADA who revealed that McGregor would not qualify for such an exemption and therefore, would be held to the same requirements as every other fighter. McGregor was none-too-happy to hear it and has since not taken the initiative to re-enter the testing pool for his unavoidable six months of screening.
If he is not back into the testing pool by Friday, June 16, he will become ineligible to compete at UFC 296 in December, the promotion’s final pay-per-view of the year.
