Anti-doping king: Conor McGregor's testing numbers are off the charts

Conor McGregor isn't usually one to let a stat go without comment. So when the UFC's antidoping database recently showed that he had been tested more times than any other fighter in 2026, the Irish star weighed in, even though he hasn't competed in nearly five years.

According to the latest publicly available testing data, McGregor has submitted to more antidoping tests than top names like Alexander Volkanovski, Jon Jones, Sean O'Malley, Sean Strickland and Rose Namajunas.

Fighters in the UFC's anti-doping pool have generally been sampled twice this year, but McGregor's name showed up three times, more than anyone else on record thus far.

"Well, no surprise there," McGregor wrote on X, adding, "As always, the most tested."

McGregor's most recent absence stems from an anti-doping sanction issued in late 2025.

Combat Sports AntiDoping (CSAD), the body that administers the UFC's yearround testing program, ruled that McGregor missed three attempted sample collections in 2024, on June 13, September 19, and September 20, which under the organization's policy count as whereabouts failures.

While McGregor was not preparing for a fight at those times and was recovering from injury, CSAD handed down 18 months of ineligibility.

Because the sanction was retroactive, it is set to expire in March 2026, clearing the way for the 37-year-old former two-division champion to compete again.

That set of circumstances is significant for McGregor's place in UFC history. Since bursting onto the scene as the wry-mouthed Irishman who could sell a fight better than most could sell tickets, he has been one of the most tested and most scrutinized athletes in mixed martial arts.

The UFC's anti-doping program, administered independently by CSAD with sample collection by Drug Free Sport International, is designed to catch both performance-enhancing drug use and violations of reporting requirements.

Fighters in the program must provide accurate whereabouts so unannounced tests can be carried out as needed.

As the suspension clock ticks down, having more tests on record could expedite his official return. The UFC typically requires fighters to be part of the testing pool for a period before they're cleared for competition; submitting frequent samples is part of that process.

Is McGregor truly close to a comeback?

Even though topping the testing list doesn't guarantee a fight announcement, McGregor's reaction and recent behavior suggest that he's positioning himself for a return.

Earlier this month, McGregor posted on X that he's agreed to both an opponent and a date, then quickly deleted the post.

"I have been offered an opponent and a date, and I accept," he wrote. "Waiting on my contract."

He doubled down with another post, indicating he may face a relatively unknown fighter next. "It's a noname up next for me, possibly, folks," McGregor said. "And as you know, idgaf. I ACCEPT. Send the contract, lads. CONOR MCGREGOR'S DEAL."

UFC President Dana White, addressing other McGregor remarks recently, made it clear that no official fight agreement has been announced.