Conor McGregor’s 18-month suspension has come to light, and it has left everyone scratching their heads. His arch-rival, Khabib Nurmagomedov, appears to be enjoying the predicament the Irishman is currently in, while one of his teammates, Josh Thomson, has revealed some new details about the suspension. Additionally, he also expressed concern about the future of McGregor’s UFC career.

Josh Thomson believes the UFC already knew about its biggest star’s suspension over unavailability for drug tests long before it became public knowledge. If we go back to what Dana White said almost a year ago, a return in 2025 for Conor McGregor was doubtful. Hence, Thomson may not be too far off the mark there. He believes the CEO is waiting for the suspension to be over, which will happen in March 2026, to announce McGregor’s White House return, but Khabib Nurmagomedov has his doubts.

Khabib Nurmagomedov takes a jibe at Conor McGregor as his teammate shares suspension details

Khabib Nurmagomedov doesn’t seem to be buying the idea that Conor McGregor will be fighting at the White House event. He took to social media to taunt the Irishman by sharing the suspension news on his Instagram stories. On the other hand, Josh Thomson, on the Weighing In podcast, revealed that the White House is looking possible for the former ‘champ champ’ because McGregor has announced his break from social media in a bid to get mentally and physically ready in the right shape to fight again.

He stated, “He’s taken a step away from social media. He’s trying to step away from all that and trying to refocus himself, whether it’s on family, whether it’s on training, whether it’s on just trying to get his life together.”

“The suspension was known, obviously, by the UFC for a long time. It’s just been announced. So they knew that he was unavailable for the whereabouts failure for the anti-doping. They knew about that they just kept it quiet,” Khabib’s AKA teammate further stated.

“They also wanted to release it when his suspension would be up, so people can understand he will probably be fighting on the White House card. It’s going to be a huge card… I think he’ll end up main-eventing it, and it just makes sense.”

Josh Thomson observed that ‘The Notorious’, who’s 37 years old, isn’t getting any younger. To Khabib’s teammate, the signs of aging are showing on McGregor, and even though he claims to have two more fights left on his UFC contract, he could just be fighting inside the Octagon for one last time.

“You see it in him. You see his face. He looks older. All those things, like he, you can tell, just hasn’t been taking care of his body… I think the reality has set in, like, he’s got one more left in him. This is it. It’s all or nothing,” Thomson added.

Conor McGregor is still a star, and Dana White could always try to accommodate him in any way possible so that he makes it to the Octagon even after more than four years away from the game. But there are those like former champion Demetrious Johnson, who don’t think the White House is the place where he should make his comeback.

Demetrious Johnson does not want McGregor or Jon Jones on the White House card

Jon Jones, much like Conor McGregor, also wants in on the White House card. He came out of retirement almost as soon as he announced it, just when the White House card chatter began. While Dana White is leaning more towards the Irishman, former flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson believes none of them deserve a spot on that event. He claims that the current roster of fighters who’ve been active should be getting the nod from the CEO because they’re constantly taking fights, and performing, while Jones and McGregor have been avoiding opponents and delaying comeback plans.

“I just don’t like when someone’s sitting there iced, sitting there and chilling while they pick and choose what they want to do. Maybe they earned that right, I have no idea, right? But for me, I want to see guys who are putting the f—ing rubber to the pavement,” ‘Mighty Mouse’ stated on his YouTube channel. “I’m not denying that [Jones and McGregor haven’t achieved great things. I’m saying that if we got guys who are on the roster f—ing fighting their a–es off, they should have the first dibs to get on the White House.”

Having Conor McGregor headline a UFC event means money for Dana White, although some people don’t want to see him at the White House. However, it seems like there is a chance it happens despite the concerns that ‘The Notorious’ may not be fighting for too long. What do you think about this situation? Let us know in the comments below.