In the Tone of Matthew McConaughey: Article Summary
Conor McGregor seems to be gearing up for a comeback in the UFC as he hints that he is back in the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) testing pool just in time for UFC 300. The Irish fighter has been sidelined since July 2021 due to a leg injury suffered during his loss to Dustin Poirier.
Returning to the Testing Pool
McGregor's extended absence from the octagon meant that he was no longer part of the UFC's year-round random USADA testing program. However, in order to be eligible to fight again, all athletes must complete six months of random USADA testing. McGregor alluded to this in a cryptic Instagram post, implying that he has submitted tests to the UFC's Vice President of Athlete Health and Performance, Jeff Novitzky.
Training Footage Release
Not only did McGregor drop hints about his drug testing return, but he also released training footage, exciting fans about his potential comeback. In the video, McGregor can be seen sparring with Nikolay Grozdev, describing it as a "banger of a spar." The Irish fighter's eagerness to get back in the octagon is evident as he expressed his readiness to face his opponents.
Possible Comeback Bout
Speculation surrounds McGregor's next fight, with fans eagerly awaiting confirmation. It is anticipated that the Irish fighter will face Michael Chandler, with whom he previously co-coached on the reality TV show The Ultimate Fighter. While no date or venue has been announced for the matchup, if McGregor is indeed back in the testing pool, he should be cleared to fight by April, which aligns perfectly with the historic UFC 300 event.
Chandler's Response
Michael Chandler, McGregor's potential opponent, has expressed frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the bout. However, he remains confident that the fight will happen and insists that if McGregor returns, he will be fighting against him. Chandler stated, "There’s no way Conor comes back and doesn’t fight me. If Conor doesn’t fight me, he’s probably just not coming back, and that’s out of my control. He’s coming back, he’s fighting me."
