Earlier this year, Conor McGregor’s long-awaited return to UFC competition was announced.
The former two-division champion’s planned comeback opponent was confirmed to be Michael Chandler, with the pair first engaging as coaches on the upcoming 31st season of The Ultimate Fighter.
With filming complete and the show set to premiere on May 30, talk should perhaps be turning towards the pair’s planned showdown in the cage. But there appears to be one sizable stumbling block.
As of this writing, McGregor is yet to return to the USADA testing pool, which he departed after suffering a gruesome broken leg in July 2021. While controversy initially surrounded his ability to do so, it’s now turned to his desire to bypass the need to spend six months in the pool before returning to competition.
In recent times, the Irishman has gone back and forth with USADA regarding the regulations. While he insisted that two clean tests will pave the way for his return, the anti-doping organization responded by insisting that the former champ-champ must also adhere to the six-month stipulation.
Perhaps surprisingly, McGregor’s expected opponent has now backed the “Notorious” star’s push for special treatment.
Chandler Chimes In On…
