Despite Conor McGregor‘s announcement of his return to fight Michael Chandler in June, Matt Brown remains skeptical, doubting McGregor’s motivation and relevance in the sport, given his recent performance and substantial wealth.
So, Conor McGregor’s planning a comeback, huh? He’s announced he’s fighting Michael Chandler in June. But Matt Brown? He ain’t buying it.
McGregor’s been teasing us for months. Rumors, delays, and finally, a New Year’s Eve surprise. He’s fighting Chandler, he says. 15 months after their stint as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 31. McGregor’s all confidence, Chandler’s game, but the UFC? Not a peep.
Brown’s not convinced. “It ain’t confirmed until it’s signed,” he said on The Fighter vs. The Writer. “Is Conor going to fight again? I don’t believe it still. Until I see it, I’m not going to believe it.”
McGregor loves the spotlight. He thrives on us talking about him. But will he fight again? Brown’s doubtful.
Remember when McGregor was a top dog? Held two UFC titles at once? That was 2016. He knocked out Eddie Alvarez, became the UFC lightweight champ. Already had the featherweight title under his belt, thanks to a 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo.
But since Alvarez? McGregor’s 1-3 in the UFC. Lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Dustin Poirier. His last fight? A gruesome leg injury in a rematch with Poirier. He’s been out for nearly three years.
Still, McGregor’s not hurting for cash. Sold his whiskey brand for a cool $600 million.
Brown’s skeptical. Does McGregor need to fight? Can he even compete anymore? He’s got half a billion in the bank. What’s a few million more for fighting Chandler?
“He doesn’t need to fight,” Brown said. “He’s not getting back to a title. He’s not going to do anything significant ever again.”
Brown thinks McGregor knows he can’t compete with the best. Picking a fight with Chandler? Smart move. Chandler’s aggressive style plays into McGregor’s counter-striking. But a guaranteed win? Not so much.
Brown doubts McGregor’s comeback will pay off. There’s a long list of fighters who’d love to make a name off beating him. And McGregor? He doesn’t want that.
“This sport moves quick,” Brown said. “These guys are f****** killers. Like a Drew Dober — I’m not picking Conor to beat Drew Dober.”
Check out The Fighter vs. The Writer every Tuesday for more. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.