MMA fans are waiting for the official announcement of Conor McGregor’s MMA return. When UFC President Dana White announced on Feb. 4 that McGregor and Michael Chandler would be coaches on The Ultimate Fighter Season 31 and compete at the end of the season, fans were hoping to get a date. However, it was later revealed that the former UFC Lightweight Champion is still not in the USADA testing pool.
McGregor’s peers have been skeptical of his lack of cooperation in working with USADA, believing he is using a banned substance. For the potential fight with Chandler to happen, McGregor would have to enter the USADA testing pool for six months. The Mirror Fighting’s Donagh Corby asked the Irish superstar about his status with USADA on May 19. McGregor shared that the issue was done and that his fight announcement would be made after The Ultimate Fighter.
While the former lightweight champion stated that, as of June 1, it doesn’t seem he is in the USADA testing pool. MMA Junkie’s Nolan King reported that there will be a pay-per-view event on Dec. 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, which fans believe could be “Mystic Mac’s” return. However, he would have to enter the testing pool by June 16.
UFC is seemingly getting down to the wire of making McGregor vs. Chandler official for this year. White spoke with the media after UFC on ESPN 46 at the post-press conference on June 4 and gave an update on the lightweight matchup.
Conor McGregor and Dana White (© Gary A. Vasquez and Mark J. Rebilas – USA Today Sports)
Dana White Provides Update On Conor McGregor vs. Michael Chandler That Doesn’t Sound Promising
At the post-press conference, White shared that McGregor called him recently and told him that he loved the first episode of The Ultimate Fighter Season 31. He then shared that the fight is still not a done deal, as they must try to get the UFC superstar to commit to his MMA return.
“…I think being here and the environment and everything else, he felt it again. He wants to get back and fight. The one thing you guys have to understand is this kid has so much money, it’s like Khabib now. It’s like this guy has sh*t loads of money, and it’s hard to, you know, it’s hard to reel these guys back in and get them fired up to get in and fight,” said White.
White’s update doesn’t sound good for McGregor’s potential fight with Chandler. The fight may still happen, but it’s getting close to falling through. It may be time for Chandler to look at different options if McGregor is not ready to compete.
Read Also: UFC Lightweight Wants To Step In To Fight Michael Chandler Because Conor McGregor Fight Is ‘Not Happening’
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