The likelihood of former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor returning to the octagon may have dramatically increased. According to McGregor, he’s back in the UFC’s anti-doping testing pool.
“I gave my first blood test that is what the plaster is on my shoulder. I am ECSTATIC! I’m in SHAPE,” McGregor wrote on Instagram captioning a video.
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On his Instagram stories, the Irishman shared photos that included captions. In the first, he wrote, “Drug tester on my yacht.” with what appeared to be a collection agent with a testing kit. In the second photo, McGregor wrote, “Blood from the shoulder” showing him sitting on a couch after providing a blood sample. In the third photo, McGregor held up a urine sample captioning the photo, “I piss excellence.”
Conor McGregor’s UFC return is now officially in motion 👀“I gave my first blood test, that’s the plaster on my shoulder. I am ECSTATIC! I'm in SHAPE!” pic.twitter.com/tfCxpRDx4V
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) July 30, 2025
McGregor last fought at UFC 264 four years ago in July 2021, losing to Dustin Poirier after suffering a broken leg in the final seconds of the opening round. He’s teased an octagon return for years but it hasn’t came to fruition.
He was expected to return at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler in June 2024 but pulled out of the fight citing a toe injury. With legal battles outside of the cage and a potential presidential run in Ireland, it wasn’t looking like McGregor would fight again. In March, he released a statement stating that he was focused on politics more than fighting.
“I’ve got two fights under contract (with the UFC). I’m in negotiations. Last week something happened to me. I went to the White House and my heart bleeds for my country right now. So, there’s a lot of stuff going on back home,” McGregor said during the BKFC 70 Post-Fight Press Conference.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done. There’s something else for me that’s in my gut right now, so that’s kind of where I’m going. Greatness doesn’t rush, also. Greatness does not rush.”
McGregor last tasted victory in January 2020, defeating Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone via technical knockout in just 40 seconds.
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