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Conor McGregor and his much-awaited return in 2023 have been keeping many fans hopeful about a ‘Notorious’ PPV to mark the end of the year. Now it appears his comeback fight against Michael Chandler might not adorn the UFC’s final PPV of the year, UFC 296, as previously hoped. The Irishman’s troubles with USADA are proving to be the biggest hurdle, and there seems to be no solution to his woes. Amidst this chaos and uncertainty, ‘The Notorious’ has sent fans a positive update with an extravagant backdrop.

The 35-year-old had recently disclosed that he was eyeing a December timeline for his comeback. Putting an end to his two-year plus layoff, he even charted out a three-fight future plan involving Chandler, Justin Gaethje, and Nate Diaz. However, the former UFC champion has been stuck in a lockup with the USADA. Despite this, he is upbeat and has already set up a training camp. Further, he recently shared an update on his training preparations as he took his Lamborghini yacht for a spin.

Conor McGregor sends a positive update amid UFC 296 concerns

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‘Mystic Mac’ turned to his Instagram handle and shared the snap of his $3,600,000 ride. Moreover, he disclosed he was going on a sparring session and put his lavish vehicle to use. The caption read, “Off to sparring”.

This would come as a welcome update for the fans, who were left worried as the Dubliner previously suggested his comeback might get pushed to the first quarter of 2024. Following this, he also mentioned he was ready, but the stars were not aligning in his favor.

Read More: “It’s on Tape You Know, Word Is Word”: Conor McGregor Reveals the Real Reason Why He Was Absent From the Historical UFC 292 Event, While Lashing Out at Dana White’s Plan for TUF 31 Finale

In a frustrating social media post, he declared, “It doesn’t look like it’s gonna happen”. He then also pleaded with Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel to support his case. However, a USADA exemption remains the only viable solution. But is it really possible?

Conor McGregor’s 2023 return- a practical possibility or a long shot?

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“Who cares what USADA says?” Dana White declared when asked about how the promotion would deal with USADA‘s mandatory six-month testing pool clause before correcting himself later. Thus, his comments hint toward a certain possibility of McGregor’s return this year on December 16.

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USADA has granted such an exemption to Brock Lesnar in the past. Given the Irish fighter’s star power and his sway over the top brass in the UFC, an exemption might not be a far-fetched dream. But whether the UFC wants to risk a probable positive test result from McGregor is a different scenario altogether.

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What do you think of this update by Conor McGregor? Do you believe he’ll fight this year? Let us know in the comments below.

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