“He’s back in the gym and training – I expect to see Conor fight next year,” the organization’s chief said in an interview with Piers Morgan. “Here’s the thing about it, and I’m sure you’ve seen this kind of thing happen to your coworkers and friends and people you know”
“Once a certain level of financial wealth is reached, it becomes very difficult to stay that hungry, work hard, and be dedicated to the sport or craft you’re involved in. Money changes everything, and Conor McGregor has made that money.”
According to the UFC’s plan, Conor McGregor, who along with Michael Chandler participated in the filming of the next season of TUF, was supposed to share the octagon with the American by the end of the year, however, the Irish fighter has still not returned to the USADA testing pool, and, judging by social media, spends most of his time not in the gym, but at recreational events.
Periodically, McGregor reminds himself with loud statements about who he plans to beat after his return, and this list, in addition to Chandler, already includes Justin Gaethje, Nate Diaz, Alexander Volkanovski and even Sean Strickland, who not so long ago won the UFC middleweight championship belt.
The Irishman last stepped into the octagon in July 2021, when he suffered a severe leg fracture in the final match of the trilogy against Dustin Puryear.