Controversy has been brewing around Conor McGregor’s possible return to the UFC. On December 31, he posted a video stating he would be stepping back into the octagon to face off against Michael Chandler in June. The Irish fighter elaborated that this would be a part of International Fight Week, one of the promotion’s biggest yearly events, which sent fans into a frenzy.
However, UFC CEO Dana White has since denied that ‘The Notorious’ would be making a return in June. At a post-fight press conference following UFC 297, White was asked if the Irishman’s announcement was true. He cryptically responded, “Ahh, no. When Conor is ready to fight, you know we’ll announce it. That’s what we do. I don’t know [if June is a possible date].”
Last year, Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler were named coaches for season 31 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. The show aired between May 30 and August 15, and the two fighters were expected to face each other in the octagon after the season finale. However, various issues with McGregor’s re-entry into the USADA testing pool reportedly stalled his return.
McGregor’s last appearance in the octagon was in July 2021 when he suffered a broken leg during a match with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264. The injury resulted in his removal from the USADA testing pool. Following his rehabilitation, McGregor was announced as a coach of TUF 31 alongside Michael Chandler. Despite his impressive success and recovery from the potentially career-ending injury, questions have been raised about what could be driving McGregor’s possible MMA comeback.
Beneil Dariush, a perennial lightweight contender, suggested McGregor’s motivation could stem from “pettiness,” wanting to regain his losses. In an interview with The Schmo, Dariush said, “I don’t really know what his motivation is… You’d have to ask him. But maybe he’s really petty. Have you thought about that? He’s just petty and he wants to get it all back. All his losses, I mean, because I could relate to that. I want to beat up everybody that beat me up.”
