Conor McGregor has revealed that he is targeting a return to the UFC in April and is eager to get back into active competition to become the best version of himself before retiring.
Conor McGregor has announced that he is targeting a return to the UFC in April. The former two-division champion revealed his plans during an interview at the Fury vs. Ngannou red carpet event in Saudi Arabia. McGregor expressed his desire to get back in the Octagon earlier, but acknowledged the need to be realistic and build himself up for his fans. The Irish fighter last competed in July 2021, when he suffered a severe leg injury in his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier.
Since his historic title win over Eddie Alvarez in 2016, McGregor has only fought four times in MMA. He secured a victory over Donald Cerrone, but suffered a loss to Khabib Nurmagomedov and back-to-back defeats to Poirier. McGregor revealed that he has been sidelined for almost three years and emphasized the frustration of being away from his job. He expressed his hope of returning in April and getting back to his way of living.
During the interview, McGregor referenced UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski, who recently spoke about his own struggles with mental health during his time away from competition. Volkanovski accepted a short-notice fight to keep his mind busy and focus on a goal. McGregor echoed the sentiment, stressing the importance of having a date set for his return.
McGregor’s period of inactivity has been further complicated by his status with USADA (U.S. Anti-Doping Agency). Initially, he was expected to face Michael Chandler after their coaching stints on The Ultimate Fighter 31. However, McGregor withdrew himself from the USADA drug-testing pool following his injury, leading to a requirement that he re-enter and be tested for six months before being allowed to compete. The recent parting of ways between the UFC and USADA intensified the situation, with both sides issuing strong statements.
McGregor officially re-entered the drug-testing pool in October and will be eligible to compete again in April 2024. He expressed his intention to fight Michael Chandler but stated that he is open to facing anyone the UFC wants. Above all, McGregor highlighted his eagerness to be on an active schedule and emphasized the need for consistent competition in order to become the best version of himself before retiring.