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#4. Conor McGregor has several other businesses to take care of
Apart from being a world-class fighter, Conor McGregor also happens to be a successful businessman. From fitness to fashion and hospitality, McGregor has delved into several industries, but his most successful venture turned out to be the whiskey business.
In 2018, a year after his blockbuster crossover matchup with Floyd Mayweather, McGregor launched Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey, named after the neighborhood of Crumlin where he grew up. From fights to press conferences, public appearances and social media, McGregor left no stone unturned in promoting the brand.
His efforts bore fruit as the brand flourished and, according to McGregor himself, sold thousands of bottles in the United States within a year of its launch. In 2021, McGregor and the co-founders of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey sold their majority stake in the company to Proximo Spirits for a reported $600 million.
With several successful businesses to run, McGregor is only left with so much time to devote to the fight game. Make no mistake, McGregor is still in phenomenal shape and could return to the octagon if he wishes to, but it's impossible for him to devote as much time to fighting as he used to.
Apart from the fight game and other businesses, the man also has a family he needs to devote time to. After doing all this, it is difficult for him to train as much as other UFC fighters do on a day-to-day basis.
#3. The fight game has evolved in his absence
During his stint in the featherweight division, Conor McGregor was one of the most unpredictable strikers in the UFC. McGregor's stance was unorthodox, he could catch you from different angles and he was lethal even while moving backwards. The Irishman's world-class counter-punching was what separated him from the rest.
However, ring rust is a real phenomenon in most physical sports. Perhaps the fact that McGregor has competed just four times in the last six years has affected him adversely. 'Notorious' also made some technical adjustments for his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather that he is seemingly finding difficult to unlearn.
Boxing requires a different striking skillset compared to MMA. McGregor learned that the hard way when he came out with a boxing-heavy stance in his rematch with Dustin Poirier at UFC 257. Poirier chomped away at McGregor's lead leg until the Irishman's movement was compromised and he was subsequently knocked out.
The top-five ranked contenders in both the lightweight and welterweight divisions have all been active recently and are used to regularly competing against elite fighters. The star that he is, McGregor can't afford a step down in competition. It is likely that he will face a third consecutive loss if he fights one of the top-five ranked contenders in either of the aforementioned divisions.
