Conor McGregor has claimed that his issues with entering the US Anti-Doping Agency pool are "done", and insists that he is ready to go for his fight with Michael Chandler.
The legendary two-weight UFC champion has been out of action for what will be over two years, and temporarily left the USADA testing pool which is mandatory for all fighters in the promotion. In order to return, he must post two negative tests as well as being available for random spot checks over a six month period, with regular updates of his location on a fighter app.
But speaking with Mirror Fighting today, the Irishman confirmed that he will be announcing the date of his return bout during the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter, where he coached against Chandler. It will be his first fight since July of 2021, when he suffered a gruesome broken leg in his trilogy bout with Dustin Poirier.
"That's done, my man," McGregor said when asked if June 1 is the date for his return to the testing pool, as had been speculated by former fighter and renowned analyst Chael Sonnen. "That's done. Year end, I'm back in that cage having competed. I'm gearing up ready to go.
"Michael Chandler, yeah. It will be announced during The Ultimate Fighter. So The Ultimate Fighter is airing now in a couple of days on ESPN, and by the time that show finishes we'll have a date and everything set for the fans."
Are you excited for Conor McGregor's UFC comeback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
The pair are all but evens at the bookies', with McGregor expected to force Chandler up to welterweight, or even middleweight despite the pair both famously fighting at 155lb. They have filmed the entirety of this season's reality show, McGregor's second after his 2015 series against Urijah Faber, which will begin to air at the end of this month on ESPN in America.
McGregor jetted home from a family trip to America in order to help with final promotion for Katie Taylor's undisputed super-lightweight title fight at the 3Arena on Saturday night with Chantelle Cameron. His Proper Twelve whiskey and Forged Irish Stout businesses will serve as main sponsors for the event, as will his recovery spray TIDL.
The Irishman's star has wained significantly from his heyday atop the lightweight and featherweight divisions, but he is still far and away MMA's most notable star. His comeback bout will be a pay-per-view event, which is expected to join his previous outings on the top 10 list for sales.
As of the time of going to print, McGregor has not returned any USADA tests within the years 2022 or 2023. He has never, throughout his career, returned a positive finding in a drugs test.
