UFC icon Conor McGregor seems poised for a comeback that has fans buzzing with anticipation.
After a hiatus, McGregor is set to re-enter the arena and is eyeing a return as early as April. He has re-entered the USADA testing pool for a six-month testing period before stepping back into the Octagon.
As the testing unfolds, speculations arise about the particulars of McGregor’s return. Although much details is not know, it is expected that McGregor will be competing against TUF rival coach Michael Chandler.
Although not official, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani shares insights into the UFC’s potential plans for McGregor. He envisions the Irish superstar headlining the much-anticipated UFC 300 in April.
Helwani expressed on The MMA Hour: “I think let’s just get to this fight. I don’t know how much he has left, it could be less than 5, it could be less than 3. Conor McGregor at UFC 300 is the move.”
“Especially given what they’ve laid out and it would just make that event gigantic. So, hopefully it happens.”
“It sounds like he’s in a really good place, currently training in the UAE. Let’s see, but all signs [point to]— I don’t know about [UFC] 300 specifically, but it seems to be all pointing to the direction of that April-ish return if all things continue to go this way.”
The best-case scenario for UFC 300 may be a non-title bout between McGregor and Chandler, given the number of championship bouts that are currently scheduled for January, February, and March.
In a previous conversation with Helwani, Chandler theorized that “we might be waiting out till UFC 300” to witness a clash with McGregor.
Despite recent setbacks, Helwani dismisses any notion of a shortage of viable opponents for McGregor at this stage of his career.
Helwani responded to a fan’s concern who implied that McGregor wouldn’t be competing again if he lost against Chandler.
He said: “Come on, that’s crazy. There will always be a fight for Conor that makes sense.”
“Is it a Diaz fight? Is it a Gaethje fight? There’s always a fight for him that makes sense. Even another Poirier fight for goodness sakes.”