Recently, former two-weight champion Conor McGregor officially submitted the necessary paperwork for his re-entry into the USADA testing pool. This marks a crucial step towards his potential return to the Octagon.
Despite this development, UFC CEO Dana White clarified that there are no concrete plans for a UFC 300 comeback for the Dubliner in April.
McGrego has been absent from the Octagon since his headline bout at UFC 264 in July 2021 against Dustin Poirier. He fractured his left tibia and fibula in a first-round doctor’s stoppage TKO loss to Dustin Poirier.
The initial plan for McGregor’s return was set for a December showdown against former lightweight title challenger Michael Chandler at the welterweight limit. But with the main event and co-headliner for UFC 296 already confirmed, these plans were subsequently revised.
In a recent update, McGregor confirmed his intention to return to the Octagon next year by submitting the necessary paperwork to Jeff Novitsky, an organizational official.
McGregor’s determination and focus on his comeback are evident from his social media post. He wrote: “Find my targets. Hit them. F*ck the consequences. You’re going down. This is fighting. Sparring day with slick @grozdevnikolay. Always a banger of a spar with the slick fella. Submitted my stuff to (Jeff) Novitsky. Ball rolling (football emoji) see you soon you little lightwork b*tch.”
White said that although a timeline lines up for a possible April return for the former champion at UFC 300, he has no present preparations in place for the Dubliner’s expected comeback. White further confirmed McGregor’s imminent return to the USADA testing pool some point next week.
After UFC Vegas 80, White stated: “I literally have nothing planned with Conor McGregor right now. The [USADA] paperwork is being submitted, we’ll play it by ear, see how things work out – there’s still a lot of things that need to happen, as far as fights go. And then we’ll decide where he’s gonna land.”