UFC’s ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor stirred up the fans and made the headlines when he failed to join the USADA pool this year. His last fight was against Dustin Poirier, where we walked away with nothing more than a broken leg and a harrowing defeat. He spent considerable time away from the sport, focusing on his business and his family. However, this year, he was supposed to return and fight old TUF rival Michael Chandler.
This year has been both good and bad for McGregor. He has managed to make headlines throughout, but most of them were for various controversies and callouts. He found himself in trouble at the NBA finals when he punched the Miami Heat mascot. And Chandler and his fans were really upset with him when he didn’t return to the UFC to join the USADA pool. However, UFC commentator Joe Rogan seems to have given the fans a new perspective – in favor of ‘The Irishman’.
Conor McGregor’s injury behind the USADA fiasco? Joe Rogan makes strong case for ‘The Irishman’
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The fans were really hyped for McGregor to finally return to the sport and entertain them. Even UFC CEO Dana White, who always speaks highly of ‘The Irishman’, seemed to be waiting for his ‘favorite’ fighter to return. However, McGregor missed the USADA pool, despite multiple warnings and intimations from the authorities. Firstly, it was believed that McGregor might not make his return before next year. Then, White said that he would be, against all odds, making his return to the Octagon this year.
Although people have been criticizing McGregor for not returning this year, Joe Rogan seems to be making a strong case for McGregor. He even speculated the reason behind the delayed ‘possible’ return. In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan was in conversation with former WWE superstar and Olympic gold medalist, Kurt Angle. The two were discussing the gravity and seriousness of a fracture or a broken femur. And that’s when Rogan defended McGregor for taking his time to return to the Octagon.
“That’s the argument also for him not being in the USADA pool. Of course, I mean, if anybody shouldn’t be in the USADA pool, like yeah, get him out of that. Like, let him do everything he can to come back, especially in the prime of his athletic career.“, said Rogan, when the two were discussing how a serious injury in the leg is different from a broken bone on the hand or the arm.
Is that the reason why McGregor is delaying his return? Or is there another reason?
Conor McGregor to fight Jamie Mullarkey or Michael Chandler? Who might be his next opponent?
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The only thing that ardent UFC fans can talk about is the speculated return of Conor McGregor and who he will be fighting upon his return. Although originally slated to fight Michael Chandler, it seems there might be a few other names on the list as well.
When Justin Gaethje won the BMF title in a gruesome fight against Poirier, McGregor called out Gaethje and said the wanted to fight for the BMF title. However, Gaethje paid no heed to the callout. Dana White, however, has maintained that upon returning, McGregor’s opponent would, in all possibilities, be Michael Chandler.
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Now, there is another angle to this story. It seems that lightweight fighter Jamie Mullarkey’s team has revealed that the fighter will be taking on his next opponent in December, in Ireland. Now, according to sources, Conor McGregor is slated to return to the UFC in December as well. Could it be that McGregor has a new opponent – Mullarkey? Or is all this just a coincidence? Will McGregor fight for the Lightweight title or the BMF title next?
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