It’s a really big month for Conor McGregor. May 17th marks the premiere of his new docu-series ‘McGregor Forever’ on Netflix. Then May 30th is when The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler kicks off on ESPN. But the most important date for most fans is the date “The Notorious” plans on stepping back in the cage.
We still have no idea when that’ll be, and UFC president Dana White claims he doesn’t know what’s going on with it either. White was asked about McGregor vs. Chandler following the promotion’s UFC on ABC event in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I don’t know. That’s the most-asked question I’m getting right now,” he said. “Obviously, the season of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ airs soon, and during that season we will be working very hard to put that fight together.”
The Ultimate Fighter: Team McGregor vs. Team Chandler is set to run from May 30th to August 15th, and originally reports had the two coaches battling each other in September. That’s starting to look rather iffy as McGregor remains outside the USADA drug testing pool. Conor was allowed to leave the program while doctors treated the leg he broke against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. Standard protocol demands he spend six month back in the pool before being allowed to complete.
As of May 15th, 2023, the USADA testing database shows no results for McGregor this year. If he re-entered the program today, he’d be eligible to fight in mid-November.
That’s if he’s forced to go through the standard six month process, something USADA has publicly stated he should do. The UFC has the right to waive that requirement and have McGregor return after just two negative tests. They’ve done it before with Brock Lesnar and with Miesha Tate. Many expect McGregor to get the same consideration, despite his recent suspicious growth spurt from lightweight to welterweight.
So what is taking so long? It’s unclear why details haven’t been ironed out, and Dana White isn’t giving us any hint at what the hold up is. Michael Chandler has said he’s got no clue either, which leaves us to blame Conor McGregor, his injured leg, and whatever’s going on with his hormone levels.
This story originally appeared on MMA Mania
