It did not take Conor McGregor long to clap back at Joe Rogan after the UFC commentator and podcaster implied the fighter's new look was down to performance-enhancing drugs.
During a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan told guest 'Derek Fitness' that McGregor's urine would "burn a hole right through the bottom" of a drug-testing cup.
Aaron Bronsteter reported for TSN in September that McGregor was the only athlete in UFC's entire active roster who had not been tested for drugs by the United States Anti-Doping Agency in 2022.
"He's taking his shirt off and posing constantly, and he looks like his piss would melt that USADA cup," said Rogan.
Responding with a tweet Tuesday, in a post that has since been removed from the platform, McGregor said: "Joe looks like his piss melts his knickers."
He then belittled Rogan's fighting capabilities.
"In the company [UFC] that long and never took a fight," said McGregor. "Tae kwon do competition; call the cops."
McGregor recently said he aims to return to UFC in 2023
McGregor said in a November tweet that he'll re-enter the drug-testing pool in 2023, and hopes to return to UFC competition that same year.
The 34-year-old has not fought since dropping back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier, and suffering a broken leg in his most recent bout in July 2021.
He has lost three times in his last four MMA fights and will be hoping to rebound with a statement-making victory when he returns to the Octagon.
Though it is unclear who McGregor's comeback opponent will be, there are a number of athletes campaigning for a shot at the Irishman.
Michael Chandler, who lost a Fight of the Year-type bout to Poirier last month, has already put his name forward.
And so has emerging star Paddy Pimblett, which could be a lucrative option for the fighters, and the UFC. Pimblett takes on Jared Gordon in the co-main event Saturday at UFC 281 — UFC's last pay-per-view show of 2022.
Should Pimblett win, in style, then it's likely he'll use his post-fight interview time to issue a challenge to McGregor, and that fight would be a worthy headliner for International Fight Week in July 2023.
