UFC President Dana White dismissed Conor McGregor’s hopes for a December showdown with Michael Chandler, pushing the anticipated bout to early 2024.
Contrary to Conor McGregor’s strong insistence, his highly anticipated bout against Michael Chandler will not be materializing this December. During an interview with Crain & Company, White divulged that the organization’s intent for the match.
White stated: “We’re working on it. Obviously, we’re running this whole season of The Ultimate Fighter. To not do that fight would be ridiculous, but we’re working on it. I’m hoping we can do it early next year.”
While this development may be disappointing for MMA fans, it should hardly be considered a surprise. The explanation stems from the fact that Conor McGregor has yet to fulfill the prerequisite of being a part of the USADA testing pool for a mandatory six months before the match.
Recent indications had suggested the potential issuance of an exemption by the promotion, thereby allowing McGregor to make a return following an abbreviated testing duration. However, this may not be the case.
The phrase “early next year” paints a broad canvas for conjecture. This implies that MMA fans might have to wait as long as March 2024 to witness McGregor and Chandler set foot inside the Octagon together. Consequently, the former two-division champion would be compelled to join the USADA testing pool within a span of mere weeks.
Conor McGregor’s last bout dates back to the initial round of his trilogy encounter with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, where he suffered a leg injury. This marked his fourth loss in his most recent five contests, including a professional boxing match against the boxing icon Floyd Mayweather.
Despite a hiatus surpassing two years, McGregor’s presence remains dominant in the media spotlight. This is because of his relentless callouts directed towards nearly every competitor on the roster.
There have been speculations that Conor McGregor’s days in the Octagon may be finished. Some are of the belief that his substantial wealth has eroded his competitive spirit. Nonetheless, McGregor vehemently refutes this assertion.