Dana White reveals he ‘doesn’t know’ when Conor McGregor will make UFC return as he shoots down huge comeback fight
DANA WHITE admits he doesn’t know when Conor McGregor will make his blockbuster return to the UFC.
The mixed martial arts superstar has been on the sidelines for the last 17 months recovering from the broken leg he suffered in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier.
APConor McGregor has been on the sidelines for the last 17 months with a broken leg[/caption]
INSTAGRAM@THENOTORIOUSMMAThe former two-division champion is seemingly ready to return to action[/caption]
GETTYUFC boss Dana White doesn’t know when The Notorious will make his octagon return[/caption]
McGregor has been hard at work in the gym recovering from the horrific injury and is seemingly ready to return to the octagon early next year.
But White has no timeframe for his return, which he insists isn’t nailed on to be against former Bellator champion Michael Chandler.
The MMA mogul said: “I never said that, ever f***n’ once.
“This is what happens when you do interviews and people listen to your interviews
“They said, ‘So, if Conor McGregor came back right now, who would you be looking at as an opponent?’
“I said, ‘Well, if he did, if that happened, and that scenario played out right now, Chandler would be a fun fight.’
“Never f***ing once did I say Conor McGregor vs. Chandler.
“I don’t even know when Conor McGregor’s coming back. And this is why I don’t like to answer these kinds of questions.
“Because some f***ing idiot somewhere on the Internet puts out that that’s what I said, and it’s not even remotely close to what I said.”
McGregor must first re-enter the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool for at least six months before he can return to action.
He could, however, be granted an exemption by the UFC and USADA and return early next year provided he returns two negative tests – the first of which he hopes to take in February.
The former two-division champion said last month: “I’m clear for testing in February.
“I will complete my two tests per USADA & we are booking a fight.”
Although White doesn’t have an opponent in mind for McGregor, the Irishman is hoping to return to action before the spring.
The UFC’s first simultaneous two-weight world champion said: “I’m going to be back soon, hopefully.
“Early 2023 I’m aiming for. Sometime in that first quarter. That will give me a good couple of months [to prepare].
“Once I wrap this [filming Road House] up in a couple of days, get the camp going [for] a good couple of months. And get going.”
Conor McGregor is hoping to return to the octagon before the end of spring 2023SPORTSFILE
