UFC Star Conor McGregor's Return in Doubt Due to Injury

UFC president Dana White confirmed Conor McGregor’s injury as legitimate, casting uncertainty over the Irishman’s return to fighting. McGregor, 35, withdrew from his upcoming welterweight bout against Michael Chandler scheduled for June 29 due to the injury. While McGregor expressed intentions to return to the UFC soon, White admitted uncertainty regarding McGregor’s future in the octagon.

“Conor McGregor – maybe he’ll fight again, maybe he won’t. You never know with some of the guys that get to that level. You never know when you’re going to see them again,” White remarked on the Jim Rome Show. McGregor, aiming for a comeback after a lengthy hiatus following a leg injury in his defeat to Dustin Poirier in July 2021, faced speculation when a Dublin press conference was canceled earlier this month, hinting at a potential setback.

The former two-weight champion confirmed sustaining the injury shortly before the media event but did not disclose its severity. As McGregor’s current UFC contract nears its end, discussions about a possible extension are underway. White dismissed claims that McGregor’s withdrawal was related to contract negotiations, emphasizing, “Conor McGregor never leads up to a fight and tries to renegotiate a contract or get more money. Conor McGregor is hurt right now. It’s absolutely real. He’s never done anything like that.”

Since claiming the two-weight UFC champion title in 2016 with a victory over Eddie Alvarez, McGregor has participated in only four fights, accumulating an MMA record of 22 wins and six losses.