Conor McGregor's UFC Return Fuels Gate Record Hopes Amid Doping Allegations

Irish fighter Conor McGregor is set to return to the Octagon after a five‑year absence, headlining UFC 329 against Max Holloway. UFC president Dana White said ticket sales for International Fight Week are soaring and expect the event to break the promotion’s gate record, which currently stands at over $21 million.

A New York Times report claims McGregor used powerful, banned substances while recovering from a broken tibia suffered in his 2021 bout with Dustin Poirier. Doctor Neal El Attrache reportedly helped McGregor seek a special exemption to use performance‑enhancing drugs, which was never granted. McGregor left the USADA testing pool in 2022, re‑entered in October 2023, and missed several required anti‑doping tests before his scheduled return.