Conor McGregor may just have to put his highly anticipated return on hold. In a disappointing turn of events, the former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion failed to meet the crucial United States Anti-Doping Agency[USADA] deadline of June 16th to enter the testing pool, rendering him ineligible to fight this year at UFC 296, the organization’s final Pay-Per-View event of 2023. This failure to fulfill the mandatory six-month requirement set by the anti-doping agency has dashed the hopes of fans eagerly awaiting McGregor’s comeback. Correspondingly, it has also ignited a fervent dialogue within the MMA community.

With the news of McGregor’s setback, the excitement surrounding his much-anticipated return now hangs in the balance. For the same reason, fans and pundits alike are questioning whether we will see the Irishman back in action anytime soon. Adding to the conversation, UFC Hall of Famer Michael Bisping has chimed in with a timely reminder for ‘The Notorious’.

Michael Bisping reflects on the compromised comeback of Conor McGregor

Reflecting upon the jeopardized return match between Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler, former UFC Middleweight Champion Michael Bisping anticipates that the bout may be shifted to next year. Bisping bluntly stated, “He’s out of the testing pool now. Sorry now, pardon me. He’s not out of the testing pool, the time has expired for him to get back into the testing pool,”

The 44-year-old added, “I don’t know if that necessarily means that the fight’s dead in the water yet. I think there is maybe some, maybe special circumstances… Who knows? Maybe they delay it, maybe they do it in January.”

Drawing a comparison to the recent news of a missing submarine, Bisping emphasized, “Just like the submarine, the clock is ticking.”

Read more: “How Many of You…”: Despite USADA Failure That Puts Him Out of Action, Conor McGregor Sends a Grim Reminder Amid News of Michael Chandler Fight Fizzling Out

Interestingly, Michael Chandler himself shares the concern over a potential delay in the fight.  There are  no official comments from Conor McGregor or the UFC regarding the match.  This means that the likelihood of witnessing ‘The Notorious’ return this year are slim.

Do you think there is any hope of seeing Conor McGregor fight this year? Will Michael Chandler have to go with another opponent after all this hype? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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