Conor McGregor angry as UFC comeback ruled out for 2023

UFC Star Conor McGregor is gutted as his Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) comeback has been ruled out for 2023 after the Irishman failed to complete the six-month drug testing program.

The last time McGregor was in the octagon was during his fight against Dustin Poirier after which he spent almost two years out of action following a nasty leg break at UFC 264 in July 2021.

But after almost 2.5 years, the Notorious is now fully fit and is ready to compete again. It was believed that he would fight Michael Chandler at UFC 296 in December before UFC’s CEO, Dana White, announced Leon Edwards vs Colby Covington will headline the final UFC show of the year.

Although it has been confirmed that the Irishman won’t be making his comeback this year, he is still sure that he will fight Chandler and even sent him a message.

“Yes, it has to be,” McGregor told All Out Fighting as he confirmed Chandler will definitely be his next opponent.

“Chandler, sit down and wait and shut your mouth, yeah? The Mac will be here soon. [I’m] en route. En route, son. En route. It’s imminent. It’s imminent,” he added.

McGregor is confident about the confirmation of his return date, but White keeps on insisting that there has been no movement.

“I got nothing on either one of those guys right now. I’ve been saying for a while, next year is when Conor’s going to fight,” the UFC CEO said last week.

“And then obviously, if Chandler gets antsy, then we’ll figure something out.

“I think Chandler’s got a bunch of money, he’s hanging out with family, and when the time is right for the Conor fight, I’m sure that’s the fight he wants.”