In a seismic twist of events that sent shockwaves through the world of mixed martial arts, UFC President Dana White has, in one fell swoop, clarified the fate of one of the sport’s most enigmatic figures, Conor “The Notorious” McGregor. Speculation and whispers had swirled for months about McGregor’s potential return to the Octagon, but it seems that fans eager to see the Irish Phenom back in action will have to bide their time just a bit longer.
McGregor, a former two-division champion, has been sidelined since a devastating leg injury during his trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The fight world had been rife with anticipation, wondering when the charismatic Irishman would grace the cage once more.
The rumor mill had suggested a December comeback for McGregor, pitting him against the formidable Michael Chandler. However, in a surprising turn of events, Dana White, the UFC’s head honcho, unveiled the headliners for not one but two upcoming blockbuster events, UFC 295 and UFC 296, without a mention of McGregor’s name.
“The main event for UFC 295 on November 11 in New York is John Jones, the GOAT, and reigning heavyweight champion, and he is defending his title against the former champ and the greatest heavyweight of all time, Stipe Miocic,” White announced with palpable excitement.
“On December 16 in Las Vegas, Leon Edwards versus Kobe Covington will headline our last pay-per-view of the year with the welterweight title on the line. We are not done adding fights to these cards, so you do not want to miss either one of these events,” he added.
The absence of McGregor from these lineups raises questions about the Irishman’s UFC return in 2023. McGregor failed to meet the deadline for re-enrollment into the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool back in July, a requirement for fighters to participate in UFC bouts. Fighters must be in the pool for a minimum of six months before they can step back into the Octagon.
While the UFC made an exception for Brock Lesnar in 2016 under “exceptional circumstances,” the official UFC-USADA policy specifies that such exemptions should only be granted when the “strict application of that rule would be manifestly unfair to an athlete.”
This latest development points toward McGregor’s eagerly awaited return potentially being pushed back to 2024, where he could face off against a star-studded lineup including Justin Gaethje and Nate Diaz. Notably, this would mark the longest hiatus McGregor has taken between fights since his UFC debut in 2008.
While the absence of McGregor from the upcoming events is undoubtedly disappointing for fans, it also underscores the UFC’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of its anti-doping protocols. It remains to be seen if McGregor can mount a successful comeback after his lengthy hiatus. One thing is for sure: when “The Notorious” eventually returns, the MMA world will be watching with bated breath.
