Conor McGregor’s potential return to the UFC continues to be overshadowed by uncertainty following his recent public appearances, including a visit to the White House with Donald Trump. The former two-weight champion has been absent from the octagon for nearly four years, with his last two fights resulting in defeats to Dustin Poirier, prompting a period of inactivity.
Outside of the sport, McGregor has faced serious allegations, including being held liable in a rape case while garnering attention for controversial behaviour. He was initially scheduled to fight Michael Chandler last year, but an injury to his toe led to the cancellation, and there have been no updates on rescheduling that bout.
Since then, Chandler has pivoted away from the rivalry, losing to Charles Oliveira in November and now preparing to fight Paddy Pimblett in April. Oliveira, speaking in light of McGregor’s absence, suggested fans might need to let go of the hope that McGregor will return to fighting. He expressed confusion about the ongoing interest in McGregor, stating that the Irish fighter has achieved everything in his career and seems content with his current lifestyle.
While McGregor has not officially indicated a desire to retire, his prolonged absence and focus on ventures outside of MMA could signal an end to his fighting days. Despite Chandler’s belief that McGregor still longs to fight and improve his legacy, he acknowledged that the chances of McGregor returning are slim. The last fight left a significant mark on McGregor’s career, and he has not fought since sustaining a severe leg injury against Poirier.
As McGregor’s situation evolves, many remain sceptical about his return to the octagon, while others accept that he may have moved on to new pursuits.