Conor McGregor is confused about his UFC status after losing to Michael Chandler

Conor McGregor seems unsure about his relationship with the UFC.

The former two-division UFC champion says he wants to return, but for some reason the promotion hasn't given him a fight date. In fact, he just lost to his expected opponent Michael Chandler in a rematch against Charles Oliveira at UFC 309.

McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC), who recently became a part owner of the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, says he has been doing everything he's supposed to behind the scenes, including regular drug testing and training to prepare for his return to action. But as it stands, McGregor has neither a date nor an opponent.

“I was tested tonight. I was tested today by the Drug Free Sport Agency,” McGregor said at the post-BKFC 66 press conference. “I'm the most tested athlete on the list, more than twice as many times. I think I was tested maybe 13 times, the number of seconds it took me to beat Jose Aldo. Thirteen times.”

“Funny thing is, Jose Aldo is number 2 in testing. I think he's been tested six times. So I've been tested more than twice like all these other athletes, but I'm having trouble getting an appointment. So I spoke to Sheikh Turki (Alalshikh) and asked, 'Sheikh Turki, can you help me here?'”

According to the UFC Anti-Doping Online Report's testing history (last updated September 13 at 12:00 p.m. ET), McGregor has been tested 10 times in 2024. Aldo has the same number. Kayla Harrison is the only other fighter with double figures, also with 10 tests.

While McGregor may have been off with his numbers, he is actually one of the most proven fighters on the list.

The Irishman was scheduled to face Chandler at UFC 303 in July, but the fight was canceled after he broke his toe.

Chandler sat on the sidelines waiting for McGregor for nearly two years since his last fight. Eventually, he had enough and decided to fight Oliveira for a rematch. While McGregor initially gave a heated response to the news on X (formerly Twitter), his tone changed as he spoke openly about the situation and expressed optimism for the future.

“As far as Chandler's rematch against Oliviera goes, I'm happy with the date,” McGregor said. “It's November. Maybe we can do it after that if they don't put me in until December, January, February – one of those dates – maybe we can do it.”

“I'm just not up to speed, you know? I can just keep going and do what I do. I test under the supervision of the testing authority, I train daily and that's all. Let's see what happens. Hopefully it all works out.”

McGregor seems to be stuck in a holding pattern. He believes he's OK, but he's still watching from the outside right now. With only a few fights left on his active UFC contract, the entrepreneurial athlete is considering what to do next.

“I have two fights left on my UFC contract,” McGregor said. “My opponent that I was supposed to fight has scheduled another fight. I would be happy to have an exception or maybe a joint partnership, Bare Knuckle-UFC. Similar to McGregor Sports and Entertainment and Mayweather Promotions. Some kind of arrangement where we can get to work.”

“I have to keep busy and right now I'm working on getting there. So, let's see what happens. Like I said, I have two fights left on my contract and it's a minute, but you know, patience is one of the most important skills a person can possess, study, learn and implement and that's where I am right now.”