Dana White has provided an explanation as to why Conor McGregor has yet to make his return to the octagon. McGregor, who hasn’t competed since suffering a leg injury in July 2021, has been linked to a comeback fight with Michael Chandler ever since their participation in Season 31 of “The Ultimate Fighter” nearly a year ago.
However, there have been obstacles in McGregor’s path to his return. He had to go through the process of re-entering the USADA testing pool and completing six months of testing, which he successfully accomplished in October. This made McGregor eligible to return in April, but there has been no official announcement regarding the date and venue for his comeback. McGregor initially announced June 29 for International Fight Week, but White expressed his hope that the fight will take place in the fall.
So, what is the reason for the delay? According to White, there are a couple of factors at play. Firstly, McGregor is recovering from a severe injury, one of the most challenging ones to come back from. White pointed out examples of other fighters like Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman, who took a significant amount of time off after suffering similar leg injuries. Secondly, McGregor’s financial situation is different from most fighters. He doesn’t necessarily need to rush back into fighting for the money, unlike others. White mentioned Khabib Nurmagomedov as an example of a fighter who retired because he didn’t need the money.
Silva broke his leg in December 2013 and returned to the octagon 13 months later. Weidman suffered a similar injury in April 2021 and made his comeback 28 months later. McGregor has been out for approximately 31 months.
White emphasized that only McGregor knows when he will be ready to return. The questions regarding his readiness should be directed at McGregor himself. White acknowledged that McGregor is training, but he doesn’t have specific details about the level of his training or the progress of his kicking abilities. For White, it is crucial that McGregor is fully committed to a training camp and ready to compete. McGregor’s involvement in other ventures, such as his upcoming movie release and his business ventures, adds another layer to the situation. Dealing with a fighter who has achieved financial success on McGregor’s level presents a different dynamic.
McGregor has a significant role in the upcoming “Road House” remake, starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which will be available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video on March 21.
According to the Source mmajunkie.usatoday.com