It has been nearly four years since Conor McGregor last competed in the UFC, and his latest remarks strongly indicate that his time as a fighter may indeed be over.
During a recent BKFC event in Florida, the former two-division UFC champion acknowledged that he declined an opportunity for a comeback fight, as he is now focusing on a potential presidential run in Ireland. McGregor also stated, “I’m happy with what I’ve done,” a statement that sounds more like a retirement declaration than a tease of a future return to the octagon.
While these recent comments suggest McGregor is finished with fighting, UFC veteran Matt Brown argues that the Irish star actually foreshadowed this outcome when he first rose to fame, and now he is simply fulfilling those earlier pronouncements.
“He told us what his plan was about a decade ago,” Brown stated on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. “Remember him saying, `I’m going to come in, dominate, make a fortune, and then get out of here`?”
“He mentioned that this sport is brutal and it`s best not to stay in it for too long. He told us this around 8 or 10 years ago. He literally told us, and he has followed through.”
Although Brown had previously suggested a couple of years ago that McGregor was unlikely to fight again, he recognized the allure and attention that comes with being the UFC`s biggest star, making it difficult to walk away.
This attraction kept McGregor considering a possible return, but Brown believes that with his presidential aspirations in Ireland and his co-ownership role in BKFC, McGregor has discovered new ways to remain relevant without needing to fight again.
“This is not surprising at all,” Brown commented. “He`s finally just admitting it. He enjoys being in the headlines. He loves staying relevant and sharing his opinion on everything. He has kept himself in the public eye, and we are still paying attention and discussing him.”
“He`s done a great job at that, a great job of playing the media. I`ve said before, he`s done fighting. I think he`s just confirming what we already knew.”
Regarding McGregor`s chances of winning a major election in Ireland, many experts in his home country are skeptical of his prospects for victory, although similar doubts were cast upon Donald Trump in the United States.
Unlike the U.S. presidency, the Irish presidency holds considerably less power and responsibility, serving more as a symbolic role. In this context, Brown believes McGregor could potentially excel, but his past controversies will likely resurface and impact voters` decisions.
“He`s a very articulate speaker,” Brown said about McGregor. “He’s sharp-witted and a good speaker. His reputation might not be ideal for someone representing your country, but in terms of his communication skills and potential as a figurehead, I believe he could be quite effective.”
“However, his reputation has been somewhat tarnished. Regardless of the truth behind the [sexual assault] allegations, they exist and are public knowledge. This makes it challenging to consider him as a representative of your country. The allegations complicate things. My point is, if none of that had occurred, he might have been excellent in such a role.”
Beyond politics, McGregor has fully embraced his role as a promoter for BKFC since becoming a co-owner in the bare-knuckle organization. Brown commends McGregor for his passion for the sport, seeing it as another way for him to stay in the spotlight without fighting.
“He`s really effective in the BKFC scene,” Brown noted. “He’s actually perfectly suited for it. He’s the ideal person to be involved. The fans love him. He has the charisma for it. He has the energy. I think it`s great for BKFC. I think it`s a pretty exciting sport, actually.”
Whether it`s growing BKFC into a leading combat sports organization or pursuing the presidency of Ireland, Brown recognizes that McGregor has numerous commitments outside of fighting.
Brown hopes that whatever path McGregor chooses, it brings him happiness because he has already achieved everything in his fighting career, and perhaps “The Notorious” is finally acknowledging this reality for himself.
“I hope he accomplishes great things and represents himself well,” Brown concluded. “He should take care of himself, represent himself appropriately, and hopefully, it enhances his life. That`s what matters. You only live once.”
“He’s not coming back to fighting. Can I now be recognized as the accurate predictor on this? It wasn`t a difficult prediction. He told us himself. I’m surprised more people didn’t listen. He said it, and I believe him.”
