Despite the controversy surrounding McGregor’s recent behavior and ban by the USADA, UFC president Dana White recently delivered a surprise when he hinted at a potential Conor McGregor bout in 2023.
In a news conference, White dismissed USADA’s findings, saying, “Who cares what USADA says?” This comment has fueled suspicion among UFC fans that McGregor may return to action sooner than planned.
While facts are limited at this time, the mere suggestion of a prospective McGregor bout has certainly sparked interest and intrigue.
Dana White’s statement on Conor McGregor’s return to UFC
In an interview with TSN, White confirmed that McGregor has not resumed the required drug testing and stated that the promotion aims to book McGregor for a fight before the end of 2023. Although McGregor has been linked to a potential matchup against Michael Chandler, no official date has been announced.
Despite officials from USADA contacting McGregor’s team about rejoining the drug testing pool, it seems that he has not taken the necessary steps to do so. McGregor had previously left the program after suffering a broken leg in his fight against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
Under current USADA regulations, athletes returning from retirement, (which technically includes McGregor since he left the anti-doping program while still under a UFC contract), must undergo six months of drug testing and provide at least two negative samples before being eligible to compete.
Although it remains to be seen what will happen with McGregor, White does not seem overly concerned at this stage, particularly without a confirmed fight in place. He emphasized that he focuses on upcoming events and is not currently thinking about UFC 300 or McGregor’s situation.
Dana White is not concerned about Conor McGregor's future because UFC has plenty of "people that are ready to fight and people that want to be Conor McGregor." 🤔
Full interview: https://t.co/6ZtNgFfkel pic.twitter.com/zzbFitcUha
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 4, 2023
In other news, McGregor was involved in a physical altercation with Chandler during the filming of “The Ultimate Fighter 31.” The incident occurred after Chandler’s team achieved an undefeated record, leading to McGregor shoving Chandler. White intervened to prevent the altercation from escalating further, highlighting the potential negative consequences of such incidents.
Conor McGregor and USADA controversy explained
Conor McGregor recently engaged in an online feud with the UFC’s anti-doping agency, USADA, regarding his potential bypassing of the mandatory six-month testing period. USADA released a statement refuting McGregor’s claims, leading to former MMA fighter Chael Sonnen discussing the controversy on his YouTube channel.
Sonnen described the feud as an unexpected and intriguing battle, highlighting the clash between McGregor and USADA. McGregor expressed his frustration with USADA’s response, claiming that they made him look like a liar. Sonnen defended McGregor, stating that he believes McGregor genuinely believed the information he shared, even though it may not align with USADA’s stance.
Conor McGregor's frustration with USADA continues ahead of his attempted UFC comeback.
Read more: https://t.co/NeDQvRmEa4 pic.twitter.com/CEDWMoWY42
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 16, 2023
However, Sonnen emphasized that McGregor cannot evade USADA’s testing requirements if he wants to compete in the UFC. USADA’s jurisdiction and contractual obligations with the promotion make it pretty much impossible for McGregor to have a one-off arrangement or fight without undergoing USADA testing.
While Sonnen sees a challenging road ahead for McGregor, he also suggests that USADA may face difficulties if they continue to clash with one of the sport’s biggest stars. He believes that McGregor’s statements have initiated a confrontation with USADA and that it could be detrimental to the agency if more outspoken figures in the sport join in criticizing its effectiveness.
