Dana White Says McGregor Return To Octagon “It’s All In Motion”

Conor McGregor, UFC 257
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 22: Conor McGregor of Ireland poses on the scale during the UFC 257 weigh-in at Etihad Arena on UFC Fight Island on January 22, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Las Vegas, NV – Fans have been clamoring for a date for the return fight for former UFC champ-champ Conor McGregor, and now that we’re nearing the broadcast of the first episode of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ which features McGregor as a coach, we get some clarity on that.

“There’s a fight,” UFC president Dana White told reporters on Saturday night when asked if McGregor has a fight in the works.

McGregor (22-6) is coaching opposite of lightweight Michael Chandler on this season of TUF. McGregor vs. Chandler has been talked about, as it is custom for the coaches to face off following the season, but a date has never been set.

Add on top of it that McGregor hasn’t been in the USADA pool for quite a while now, and would need to take part for a minimum 6 months in order to be eligible to fight, the time crunch feels real to many.

“He has to get into the USADA pool first. He’s filling out the paperwork. I don’t know how soon that will be done or what’s going on, but that’s his business that he’s handling with USADA,” White said.

“But it’s all in motion.”

With 2023 quickly filling up with pay-per-view main events the promotion, and fans, are waiting for an announcement that McGregor said will come during the airing of TUF.

“That is correct,” White confirmed on that front.

White holds out hope that McGregor vs. Chandler will happen in 2023. He didn’t give any date or time frame, but the hope is that it’ll happen this calendar year.

“That’s what we’re shooting for. Hopefully we have a big fight in Madison Square Garden in November, and then a big fight in December,” he said.

McGregor has not fought since July 2021 at UFC 264 where he suffered a leg injury against Dustin Poirier.