Dana White makes statement on Conor McGregor headlining UFC 300 after Irishman fights back tears reflecting on leg break
DANA WHITE has seemingly poured cold water on Conor McGregor making his octagon return in the spring.
The UFC’s poster boy is set to take on former Bellator lightweight champion Michael Chandler in his long-awaited comeback fight, which was announced in February.
McGregor’s absence from the USADA drug testing pool, which he re-entered last month, delayed the bout.
USADA and UFC policy required The Notorious to be in the pool for a minimum of six months before being eligible to compete.
The UFC’s partnership with the anti-doping agency is set to end on December 31, although MMA’s top promotion plans to keep McGregor out of action as long as he would’ve been required to have been had they inked a new deal.
That lined up perfectly for an April return at , although White has hinted the Return of the Mac will take place in the summer.
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He told : "He's good, he's ready. He wants to [fight].
"He's got to sit out for the six months to get back into the drug-testing pool.
"So, realistically, [we] could be looking at him next summer."
Former two-division champion McGregor, 35, recently revealed fancies headlining the UFC's 300th pay-per-view show.
He said: "April is a lovely run-up for me and I’d be happy with that.
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"I’m in a good spot, I’ve been training - I’ve been leaving also.
“The paperwork is being submitted. We’ll play it by ear, see how things work out.
And he got emotional recalling his road to recobery, saying last month: "I’ve been kept from my living for almost three years now.
“Understand that. I came through what I came through. I’m sitting on an injury and a loss.
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"You hear what Alexander Volkanovski said? I relate. I must return to my way of living.
"This is my job. It’s beyond frustrating. … I just want the date. Give me the date, please. That’s it.”