Conor McGregor told ‘it’s the end’ of his UFC career as jacked MMA legend prepares to make blockbuster return
CONOR McGREGOR’S MMA career is over despite his highly-anticipated return in 2023, says British UFC star Darren Till.
The Irishman, 34, has endured a lengthy period of rehabilitation since breaking his leg during his last fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021.
Instagram / @thenotoriousmmaConor McGregor is preparing to return to the octagon this year[/caption]
GettyDarren Till believes McGregor’s MMA career is over[/caption]
Now he is preparing to make his long-awaited return to the octagon later this year.
And he could seek an exemption to USADA’s six-month testing pool requirement to fight before the summer.
However, Till, 30, feels McGregor‘s career has reached the end of the road.
Speaking to Basketball Insiders, he said: “I think Conor has been there and done it, made his money and now he’s happy.
“I’m sure he probably wants to come back but deep down he knows life’s different now.
“I think it’s probably the end for Conor but he’s still the biggest name in the sport.”
McGregor has won just one UFC contest in six years since crossing over and losing to Floyd Mayweather in a boxing bout in 2017.
He was beaten by Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018 and then spent 14 months out of action.
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The Notorious returned with a 40-second KO victory over Donald Cerrone, before another 12 months of inactivity.
And then in 2021 he lost to Poirier on two separate occasions, the second of which included the leg break which has kept him sidelined until now.
It is not yet known who he will face in his comeback fight, but Michael Chandler recently called him out for a huge clash.
Speaking to MMA Junkie, Chandler, 36, said: “Obviously Dana’s on board with it, I think the UFC’s on board with it – I do think Conor’s on board with it.
“We’ve seen our interactions in the past. You’re not going to see me out here badmouthing him, mother-effing him, and tweeting him and all that stuff. That’s not my style.
“I’ve always been respectful of Conor. I’ve always said the sport of mixed martial arts is better when Conor is in it, so let me be the other guy on the other side of the octagon.”
Chandler continued: “Let’s be honest: I fought outside the UFC for most of my career.
“I’ve never once been worried about if a guy has been using anything whatsoever.
“I will say it’s just downright false that USADA – are people going to scrutinise things and look at things through a microscope and comb through it with a fine-tooth comb and say, ‘USADA could to this better, USADA could do that better’ – absolutely. But overall, we can be tested at any time, any place, anywhere.
“Our whereabouts are on our phones at all times. Is it a perfect system? No. Will it ever be perfect? Absolutely not. Do I have any concerns whatsoever, absolutely not.
“Then also the guy comes back and he’s six months in the USADA testing pool getting tested six times, 12 times, five times, two times – it doesn’t matter.
“He’s in the pool for that amount of time, six months is half a year. It’s a long time. So, I have no concerns. I’m not that worried about it, honestly.
“I’ve wished Conor a speedy recovery from the beginning. It’s not like he sprained his ankle. It’s not like he broke his hand, it’s not like he broke his nose. The guy shattered his leg.
“So I hope he’s doing well on it, hope he’s recovering well.
“He looks big, tanned and jacked and I would love to fight him at 170. Let’s do it.”
GettyMichael Chandler wants to fight McGregor this year[/caption]
