Michael Chandler's patience is wearing thin. Conor McGregor and Chandler are presently acting as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31.
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Michael Chandler’s patience is wearing thin. Conor McGregor and Chandler are presently acting as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31, a season based on the assumption that the UFC stars would face off in a welterweight fight later this year.
However, there are concerns about the booking, given that McGregor has yet to re-enter the USADA testing program and the latest sexual assault claims leveled against him.
Chandler uploaded a quick video on Tuesday evening expressing his anger with his opposition TUF 31 coach not yet being in the testing pool and so effectively ineligible to participate before the end of 2023.
“Alright guys, you guys have all seen the news,” Chandler said. “Conor’s not in USADA. A hundred and seventy-nine days left until Dec. 16, which is supposed to be the last pay-per-view of the year. Comically, USADA shows up at my door today to add insult to injury.
“Where you at, boy?”
McGregor appears to have missed the deadline last week to re-register with the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) in order to compete in the UFC’s last event on December 16th. McGregor must be in the pool for six months before fighting, according to Usada regulations, and Chandler believes he is still missing from testing.
“You guys have all seen the news: Conor’s not in Usada,” Chandler said on social media.
“One hundred and seventy-nine days left until 16 December, which is supposed to be the last pay-per-view of the year.
“And comically, Usada shows up at my door today to add insult to injury.”
According to Usada’s data, McGregor has not been tested this year. The American had not been tested until Chandler claimed the doping watchdogs arrived to test him this week. McGregor was previously told by the UFC’s anti-doping partner that he would not be eligible for an exemption to avoid the six-month testing requirement.
McGregor withdrew from USADA’s tests last year after breaking his leg in his loss to Dustin Poirier. Previously, wounded fighters were not able to withdraw from testing unless they were retiring.
Chandler and McGregor were scheduled to fight this year when the UFC’s Ultimate Fighter TV series concluded. The lightweight rivals will feature as competing coaches on the program, and UFC president Dana White has stated that the bout will take place before the end of the year.
However, McGregor is now facing charges in the United States from a woman who claims he sexually assaulted her after an NBA game last week. Chandler says he hasn’t given up his dream of facing McGregor and believes it might happen in early 2024.
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