Unless something considerably alters, 2024 will reoccur without Conor McGregor battling in the UFC.
In spite of McGregor revealing his desires to return this year, UFC CEO Dana White has actually been determined that “The Notorious” will not contend in 2024 after a damaged toe cancelled his battle versus Michael Chandler, which was initially arranged for UFC 303 in June. All indications appeared to point towards a December face-off for the long-awaited match, however White exposed that while he spoke to McGregor, “he will not combat this year.”
Just recently retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown has actually long thought that McGregor will never ever battle once again, and his viewpoint was just reinforced by this most current hold-up.
“He's gone,” Brown stated of McGregor on The Fighter vs. The Writer“I've stated it for a long period of time now. The number of years have I been stating it? He's done. I do not mark down that there's a possibility that he returns, however the possibilities of him returning are way lower than the possibilities of him not combating once again. He's at, like, a 20-percent opportunity of returning, I believe.
“He's doing excellent staying in the news, doing terrific keeping his name out there. We had actually all love to see him combat still. I ‘d like to see him battle Chandler, whoever I ‘d like to see Conor battle– if he's training correctly, remaining off the numerous compounds or whatever it is. Can be found in the genuine Conor. Live your life all desire when you're 45 and you're retired and you're completely out. Enjoy it then, however for now let's see all the battles. Let's see them. I wish to see you combat.”
There's a myriad of reasons Brown never ever purchased the McGregor return after the Irish super star suffered a gruesome damaged leg in his last UFC look in a loss to Dustin Poirier back in 2021.
Reality be informed, Brown's viewpoint on McGregor does not vary that much from White, who has actually long questioned if the previous two-division UFC champ would in fact battle once again one day.
“Conor McGregor– perhaps he'll battle once again, perhaps he will not,” White stated on The Jim Rome Show in June. “You never ever understand with a few of the guys that get to that level [of wealth]You never ever understand when you're visiting them once again.”
While McGregor's future stays cloudy, Chandler stays stuck waiting after very first registering for the match upon accepting act as a The Ultimate Fighter coach in early 2023.
From McGregor still recuperating from his injury, to a needed six-month waiting duration to combat once again after returning to the UFC's anti-doping program, to the damaged toe in July, Chandler has actually been required to the sidelines as his 39th birthday sneaks better in April 2025.
Presuming the battle does not get set up in 2024, Chandler has actually missed out on a minimum of 2 years of his profession waiting on McGregor, and there's still no assurance his persistence settles.
