UFC fans will be waiting a little longer than expected for Conor McGregor’s eagerly anticipated return to the Octagon.
The former dual-weight UFC champion has been sidelined ever since he suffered a fractured tibia and fibula at UFC 264 in July 2021.
It was believed that he is gearing up for a comeback fight in the first few months of 2023, but UFC president Dana White has now revealed McGregor’s return is at least six months away.
After watching Islam Makachev become the lightweight champion at UFC 280, White spoke with assembled media who were curious about when ‘Notorious’ will fight after watching Beneil Dariush recover from the same injury in just six months.
One reporter asked the UFC boss if McGregor will be required to undergo six months of United States Anti-Doping Agency [USADA] drug tests before his return after it was recently revealed the Irishman has not been subjected to any in 2022.
The UFC boss nodded along before confirming that McGregor will need to re-enol in the USADA program and stay in it for six months before he fights again.
If McGregor was to re-enrol with USADA today, he would be allowed to fight on April 23, but it’s currently unclear when he will actually dive back into the testing pool.
In contrast to his year in recovery, the 34-year-old – who has never failed a drug test – was one of the most tested athletes in 2021 with 11 samples taken over the course of the year.
Despite being injured, McGregor has managed to seriously bulk up during his time away from the sport ahead of his move to the welterweight division.
However, not everyone is a fan of his new physique, with lightweight contender Justin Gaethje recently claiming – without any evidence – that ‘Mystic Mac’ is using performance-enhancing substances.
McGregor has shrugged off unwarranted cheating allegations from his rivals and has recently been combining his workout sessions with shooting a movie.
The former lightweight and featherweight titleholder has recently been filming Amazon’s reimagining of the 1980s classic Road House with Hollywood superstar Jake Gyllenhaal.
So, it may be some time before he is ready to fully commit himself to a fight camp and being available for the year-round drug tests that come with being a UFC fighter.
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