Will Conor McGregor fight in 2023? Why is ‘The Notorious One’ not in USADA pool?
Find out more details about the status of Conor McGregor in the USADA testing pool and if he will fight in 2023.
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Conor McGregor (Image Courtesy - Sports Illustrated)
The MMA world has waited for the return of their ultimate superstar Conor McGregor for two years. The Irish superstar left the sport in 2021 due to a horrible leg injury and returned at the start of 2023. Fight fans got excited to see the Irish star coach The Ultimate Fighter opposite Michael Chandler in Season 31. Everyone expected the Irish superstar to fight this year, but it remains unlikely.
Due to the leg injury in 2021, McGregor took himself out of the USADA testing pool to recuperate from the devastating injury. UFC fighters must remain in the USADA testing pool for at least six months and produce two negative drug test results to become eligible for competition. Conor McGregor missed the deadline to return in 2023 this week and will now have to wait until next year to compete.
McGregor has had a rocky MMA career since defeating Eddie Alvarez in 2016. The Irishman has only competed in four MMA bouts in the last seven years and remains with just a victory. During this period, he got knocked out for the first time in his career. It appears from all sides that McGregor is no longer the same fighter from 2016. Find out the reason why McGregor did not enroll in the USADA testing pool and if he fights in 2023.
Related: Conor McGregor’s girlfriend: Who is Dee Devlin and how did she meet the UFC superstar?
Did the Miami sexual assault incident derail Conor McGregor’s enrolment in the USADA testing pool?
Conor McGregor attended game 4 of the NBA finals featuring the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. A few days after the game, a woman accused McGregor of attempting to r*pe her. The alleged incident remains a possibility why McGregor could re-enroll in the USADA testing pool in time.
McGregor needed to enroll before mid-June to compete in the final PPV card of the year in December. However, he did not register himself and will likely not compete in 2023. Fight fans must wait until 2024 to see the Irishman compete inside the octagon.
Is there a possibility of Conor McGregor fighting in 2023?
The USADA bent its rules in 2016 to allow Brock Lesnar to compete at UFC 200. They also bent their rules to enable Jon Jones to compete at UFC 232 after the NSAC banned him for finding traces of some banned metabolite in his system.
If the USADA and Team McGregor can come to some agreement, then the Irishman can compete in 2023. McGregor is the sport’s biggest superstar, which may let the USADA allow him to compete potentially. There is only little chance that the former champion will fight in 2023.
Is Conor McGregor going to fight in 2023?
As of now, it remains unlikely.
Did Conor McGregor re-enter the USADA testing pool?
No, he did re-enter the USADA testing pool.
Will USADA let Conor McGregor fight in 2023?
Barring a miracle, it remains unlikely.
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