Conor McGregor is set to make a triumphant return to the cage before the year is out.
That is according to Dana White. The news arrives on the back end of McGregor’s leg injury against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021.
After a dedicated period of rehabilitation, McGregor will return to face Michael Chandler, who coincidentally served as McGregor’s opposing coach on ‘The Ultimate Fighter.’
During UFC Vegas 73, Dana White revealed an official announcement regarding McGregor’s comeback.
“That’s correct [there will be an announcement during the airing of The Ultimate Fighter]. There’s a fight. He has to get into the USADA pool first.
“He’s filling out the paperwork. I don’t know how soon that will be done or what’s going on, but that’s his business, that he’s handling with USADA. But it’s all in motion,” McGregor
McGregor’s return to the Octagon seems to have encountered a slight hurdle.
Having taken a break from the USADA testing pool to focus on recovering, McGregor must now enrol once again.
As per USADA regulations, unless the UFC grants him a waiver, McGregor will need to spend six months in the testing pool before becoming eligible to compete again.
Dana White on Conor McGregor’s USADA delays: ‘He’s filling out the paperwork’ https://t.co/F5LfkXBACR pic.twitter.com/flVJG3bhkY
— MMA Mania (@mmamania) May 22, 2023
However, recent developments indicate that McGregor is actively taking steps to expedite his return.
He revealed his intention to re-register with USADA, signaling his eagerness to make a comeback later in the year.
If McGregor initiates the re-enrollment process in the coming weeks, it will position him to potentially step back into the Octagon in the late months of November or December.
So watch this space.