Whether or not Conor McGregor means it is anyone’s guess, but the former UFC dual champion indicated Wednesday evening that he’ll soon be ready to take the first step to returning to the octagon.
“I am clear for testing in February,” McGregor tweeted. “I will complete my two tests per USADA and we are booking a fight.”
The declaration comes one month after UFC president Dana White confirmed that McGregor withdrew from the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency drug-testing pool. In order for McGregor to fight again, he first will have to complete six months in the program.
Why McGregor, 34, wouldn’t be “clear for testing” until February is unknown. Waiting until then means the earlier McGregor could compete would be August 2023. A traditional lightweight, McGregor has transformed his body and bulked up with muscle, leading Anthony Smith and others to suggest that the 34-year-old has been using performance-enhancing drugs.
McGregor, 34, has not competed since he suffered a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in July 2021. The injury came in a trilogy bout and signified his second consecutive loss to Poirier. McGregor hasn’t won a fight since beating Donald Cerrone by first-round TKO at welterweight in January 2020.
After the incident, McGregor underwent surgery and extensive rehabilitation, openly showing his progress on his social media pages. In recent months he’s posted videos of himself sparring and training without limitations to his previously injured leg.
If he comes back, McGregor should have no shortage of interesting matchup options. Michael Chandler and Jorge Masvidal are among those who have called him out.
