Conor McGregor’s path back to the UFC has cleared up a bit.
The former two-division champion hasn’t been in the octagon since he broke his leg during his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021.
McGregor’s failed comeback attempt against Michael Chandler last year sparked new rumours about a return, but nothing materialised.
But a return seemed off the table when he received a suspension, ruling him out until well into 2026.
Conor McGregor now eligible after completing 18-month UFC anti-doping suspension
McGregor was handed an 18-month ban for violating the UFC’s anti-doping policy.
‘The Notorious’ missed three scheduled drug tests in 2024. According to a statement published on UFC.com, McGregor failed to provide biological samples on June 13, September 19, and September 20.
A toe injury forced McGregor to withdraw from his UFC 303 bout with Michael Chandler just a day before the first missed test.
McGregor took responsibility for the violations and received an 18-month suspension, backdated to the date of his third missed test.
The suspension has now expired, making McGregor eligible to compete again as of Friday, March 20, 2026.
Conor McGregor expected to return in Las Vegas after missing White House card
McGregor had been hoping to make his comeback on the White House lawn this June, but that won’t be happening.
The full UFC White House card was released earlier this month, with both McGregor and Jon Jones left out of the lineup.
Before the official announcement, ‘The Notorious’ had already indicated he’d been passed over, suggesting the UFC preferred to hold his return for a bigger arena event where they could maximise revenue.
With that in mind, attention has shifted toward International Fight Week in Las Vegas later this year. It looks increasingly likely that’s where he’ll finally step back into the Octagon.
Read more: