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Conor McGregor has been the biggest star in the UFC for years now. He is responsible for countless memorable moments in the promotion's history. He dethroned José Aldo and became the first fighter under the UFC banner to hand 'Scarface' a loss in the promotion.
The Irishman is also credited for being the first simultaneous two-division champion in UFC history. He is the protagonist of MMA's greatest success story. Unfortunately, recent events seem to indicate that his time at the mountain top has passed. It might be time for the promotion to move on from him as its crown jewel.
While UFC fans await the Irishman's return with bated breath, the promotion would be wise to reconsider prioritizing his return. Dana White and co. have spent a long time searching for the next big UFC star to lead the next generation of MMA. This list explores five reasons why they should steer their focus away from McGregor.
#5. Conor McGregor will be 35 years old this year
MMA, like all sports, is a young man's game. Conor McGregor is currently 34 years of age. While this wouldn't raise any eyebrows were he a heavyweight or light heavyweight, the case is vastly different in a weight class like the lightweight division. Often-times, even minor dips in age can have severe effects.
The Irishman is unlikely to return to the octagon before his 35th birthday this July. Tony Ferguson's career downslide also took place during his 35th year on Earth. He took a life-changing beating against Justin Gaethje, but 'El Cucuy' looked unusually slow during that bout.
If Conor McGregor suffers, in any way, from a loss of speed or any other important physical attribute, he won't be the same fighter he was prior. The UFC can't afford to prioritize his return if he doesn't perform at the level that fans have come to expect from him. This is especially true given his time away from the cage.
An old McGregor is not a longterm option as the flagship bearer of the UFC, least of all in a division like lightweight where most fighters decline in their mid thirties.
#4. Conor McGregor's criminal past could lead to bad publicity given Dana White's recent scandal
Dana White was recently the subject of a scandal. While attending a New Year's Eve party at a nightclub in Mexico, the UFC president was filmed engaging in a physical altercation with his wife, Anne White. The two were in a heated argument that culminated in slaps being exchanged.
The 53-year old received widespread condemnation for his retaliatory slap, forcing him to do something he rarely ever does: issue a public apology. If the UFC prioritizes Conor McGregor's return, it might be seen in poor taste given the Irishman's criminal past.
Not only has 'The Notorious' been filmed punching an older man at an Irish pub for allegedly turning down his whiskey, but he has also recently been accused of physically assaulting a woman on his yacht. The alleged victim claims that she leapt from the yacht into the ocean in fear for her life.
Due to Dana White's recent altercation with his wife, it might be against the UFC's interests in terms of public relations, to prioritize the return of a fighter with a documented history of assault who is now the subject of another assault case. Only this time, it's against a woman.
#3. The timeframe of Conor McGregor's return
There is still no known timeframe for Conor McGregor's return. The former two-division champion has spent most of his time away from the octagon recovering from a brutal injury. UFC fighters have come out in droves accusing 'The Notorious' of using banned substances to accelerate his recovery.
The accusation was given further credence after the Irishman sought to use a possible USADA loophole to avoid entering the organization's testing pool. The former featherweight will need to spend six months in the USADA testing pool before he's allowed to step inside the octagon for his return bout.
But given that it's now February and a return date hasn't been given nor has he re-entered the USADA testing pool, it's in doubt whether he'll return in 2023 at all. He'll need to spend six months in the testing pool. That's to say nothing of how much time he'll need for the alleged substances he's taking to exit his system.
The UFC should reconsider focusing on McGregor's return if it might not even happen this year.
#2. Conor McGregor has done poorly at lightweight and will be out of place at welterweight
There's still very little certainty about Conor McGregor's return. The Irishman recently bulked up so fans have been left wondering if he'll return as a lightweight or a welterweight. Neither option bodes well for 'The Notorious'. His record in the lightweight division is relatively poor.
While he captured the divisional crown against Eddie Alvarez, it remains his only win at 155 lbs. The Irishman lost to Khabib Nurmagomedov and twice to Dustin Poirier. The losses to 'The Diamond' specifically indicate how one-dimensional his skill-set is in the 155 lbs weight class.
McGregor's habit of leaning his entire torso until his shoulders are parallel to his lead knee is troublesome. Furthermore, his inability to fight with his back against the cage is concerning during the era of cage-wrestling. At welterweight, he'll be completely out of his element.
The Irishman has always been at his best when he has a size advantage. His power also diminishes with every weight class. At welterweight, he'll be undersized against much larger fighters who are big enough to compete at middleweight. Additionally, most welterweights are skilled wrestlers with insane cardio.
So while the Irishman's return is highly anticipated, he has almost no winnable matchups in either division other than Michael Chandler and Tony Ferguson.
#1. There are younger stars that the UFC can focus on
There are now several UFC fighters who the promotion can rely on to carry the torch. At bantamweight, Sean O'Malley is the undisputed star. With a large social media following, a unique look and entertaining fighting style that earns him a high knockout percentage, 'Sugar' is a reliable attraction in the MMA world.
Furthermore, he is only 28 years old and is on the cusp of a title fight. His decision to stream himself while playing video games also enabled him to connect with a younger generation of fans who can reach him in a way that fans can't with Conor McGregor. However, 'Sugar' isn't the only rising star.
Khamzat Chimaev is a 28-year old undefeated phenom who has filled the hole left by Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement. The same is true for the likes of Islam Makhachev and even Charles Oliveira. The UFC now has a reliable supporting cast of recognizable names that it can rely on.
