UFC President Dana White took fans by surprise after he announced that the former two-division champion Conor McGregor will return to the Octagon opposite Michael Chandler as a coach for the latest edition of The Ultimate Fighter season 31, which will air on May 28, later this year.
TUF 31 will wrap up in August, and while there’s no information as to when McGregor will step inside the Octagon, UFC President Dana White has confirmed McGregor vs Chandler is a done deal! However, the road to the Octagon still has some bumps ahead.
McGREGOR vs CHANDLER IS CONFIRMED!!@TheNotoriousMMA and @MikeChandlerMMA will officially coach the next season of #TUF31! pic.twitter.com/effjf0Rg2M
— UFC (@ufc) February 4, 2023
Conor McGregor, who stepped out of the USADA testing pool to nurse his injury after suffering a broken leg back at UFC 264, is yet to enter the testing program ahead of his return on TUF.
Conor McGregor has not re-entered USADA ahead of TUF 31
Owing to the fact that McGregor hasn’t been tested by USADA for more than a year now, rumors are rife that he has been administrating steroids. Several UFC fighters have also accused McGregor of using PEDs. While one can never be truly sure, it’s safe to say, he will go through the strenuous USADA program ahead of his UFC return.
Conor McGregor has not re-entered the USADA drug-testing pool as of today, according to the agency. USADA reiterated that he would need to be in the pool for six months and pass at least two drug tests to compete again in the UFC.
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) February 4, 2023
It goes without saying he can coach at The Ultimate Fighter despite not being in the USADA pool. However, to compete, McGregor will have to be in the pool for six months and pass at least two drug tests. There’s still a lot of time for the Notorious to make the move considering the TUF season will last until late August, and it could be a month or two before McGregor and Chandler share the Octagon.
Conor McGregor will step inside the Octagon for the first time since his horrific injury back at UFC 264 in 2021. Meanwhile, Michael Chandler is coming off a submission loss against Dustin Poirier late last year. Interestingly enough, both fighters will step inside the Octagon, having lost to the same fighter.
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