Conor McGregor hasn`t fought in the UFC for almost four years, and his latest comments strongly suggest that his time as a fighter might truly be over.
At a recent BKFC event in Florida, the former UFC two-division champion indicated he declined a potential comeback fight, instead focusing on a possible presidential run in Ireland. McGregor also stated, “I’m happy with what I’ve done,” a remark that sounds more like a retirement announcement than a hint at a future return to the Octagon.
While these recent statements seem to imply McGregor is done with fighting, UFC veteran Matt Brown points out that the Irish star actually alluded to this path early in his career, and now he appears to be fulfilling those earlier pronouncements.
“He told us about 10 years ago what his plan was,” Brown said on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. “Remember him saying, `I’m going to come in, dominate, make a lot of money, and then get out of here`?”
“He said something to the effect that this sport is brutal, and you shouldn`t stay in it for too long. He told us this many years ago, and he`s actually following through with it.”
Brown, who himself suggested a couple of years back that McGregor was likely done fighting, acknowledged that the allure and attention of being the UFC`s biggest star are hard to relinquish.
That allure might have kept McGregor considering a 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 in the spotlight without needing to fight again.
“This isn`t surprising at all,” Brown stated. “He`s finally just admitting it. He loves being in the news, staying relevant, and giving his opinion on everything. He`s kept himself in the public eye, and we`re all still paying attention and talking about him.”
“He`s done a great job of that, of playing the media. I`ve said before, he`s finished with fighting. I think he`s just confirming what many of us already suspected.”
Regarding McGregor`s chances of winning a major election in Ireland, many political experts in his country are skeptical of his chances of success. However, parallels have been drawn to Donald Trump`s unexpected rise in the United States.
Unlike the U.S. presidency, the Irish presidential role carries significantly less power and responsibility, serving more as a symbolic position. In this context, Brown thinks McGregor could potentially excel. However, he believes McGregor`s past controversies will likely hinder his political aspirations when voters go to the polls.
“He`s a very articulate and charismatic speaker,” Brown commented on McGregor. “He`s sharp-witted and a good communicator. While his public image might not be ideal for representing a country, in terms of his speaking abilities and potential, he could actually be very effective.”
“Unfortunately, his reputation has been somewhat tarnished. Regardless of the truth behind the sexual assault allegations, they exist and are public knowledge. This makes it difficult for people to consider him as a representative of their country. It`s the allegations that complicate things. My point is, if none of that had occurred, he might have been remarkably suited for the role.”
Beyond politics, McGregor has fully embraced his promotional role with BKFC since becoming a co-owner. Brown praises McGregor`s passion for the sport, noting it as another avenue for him to stay in the headlines without fighting.
“He`s really thriving in the BKFC scene,” Brown said. “He`s perfectly suited for it. He`s the ideal person to be involved. The fans love him, he`s a great spokesperson, and he brings energy to it. I think it`s fantastic for BKFC, and I think bare-knuckle boxing is actually pretty cool.”
Whether it`s growing BKFC into a major combat sports organization or pursuing the presidency of Ireland, Brown recognizes that McGregor has numerous commitments outside of fighting.
Brown hopes McGregor finds fulfillment in his future endeavors, as he believes McGregor has nothing left to prove in his fighting career, and perhaps “The Notorious” is finally acknowledging this reality.
“I hope he accomplishes great things and represents himself well,” Brown concluded. “He should take care of himself, represent himself responsibly, and hopefully, it improves his life. That`s what life is about. You only live once.”
“He`s not coming back to fighting. Can I now be officially recognized as the accurate predictor on this? It wasn`t a difficult prediction. He told us himself. I don`t understand why nobody listened. He literally said it, and I believe him.”
Wesley Dunham 
Marcus Blakely