UFC legend Matt Brown doubts Conor McGregor will ever return to the UFC, citing McGregor’s injury, financial security, and lack of motivation as key reasons.
UFC legend Matt Brown never had much faith that Conor McGregor would actually fight again. That opinion has only been strengthened since the Irish superstar dropped out of his scheduled return against Michael Chandler at UFC 303 on June 29.
An injury ultimately derailed McGregor’s plans. There’s still no word on what exactly happened or when he might be able to compete again.
That level of uncertainty only convinced Brown that much more. His original prediction about McGregor’s future is that much closer to coming true.
“I was never confident before that he would [come back],” Brown said on the latest episode of The Fighter vs. The Writer. “It didn’t shock me when I saw he was out of this fight.”
“No, I’m still on that same train — he’s not ever coming back.”
“I say the same thing I said before, I hope he proves me wrong. I hope I’m wrong.”
“I would like to see Conor fight again. I would like to see him do a real training camp with real training partners, push himself hard, go back to the great Conor that he was before.”
When McGregor’s return date was first announced, Brown actually celebrated. The former two-division UFC champion was making his return after three years away.
Despite his hesitancy to believe McGregor was actually going to fight, Brown hoped to be wrong. Ultimately, he believes MMA is a better place with McGregor around.
Sadly, as more and more time passes and delays in his return continue to multiply, Brown is just seeing too many red flags. He can’t buy into McGregor actually fighting again.
If anything, Brown says perhaps McGregor should abandon a future in the UFC and return to boxing. There’s going to be far less wear and tear on his body.
“Notice I said ‘maybe he will prove me wrong,’ and I remember when you broke that news, the first thing I said is, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it,’” Brown said.
“I said maybe he’ll prove me wrong, and that’s a maybe. It just doesn’t make sense for him to fight again.”
“If he’s going to fight again, it should be boxing. He doesn’t have to worry as much about the shin.”
“It’s been three years. You shouldn’t have to recover from any injury for three years.”
“I’m not convinced still that he’ll ever fight again with the UFC. Maybe he’ll do something else.”
“If he does, I think it should be boxing. He’s not a bad boxer.”
Beyond the broken leg McGregor suffered in 2021 and the physical ailments that may still haunt him, Brown felt like the money “The Notorious” earned during his career would probably serve as the ultimate deterrent to another fight.
It’s the same reason UFC CEO Dana White continues to question whether or not McGregor will ever fight again. Financially speaking, the former two-division champ never has to do anything besides sit back and collect interest in his multi-millions in the bank.
“I’ve said it many times — why would he come back?” Brown stated.
He built a large majority of his net worth outside of the UFC. He doesn’t have anything to prove coming back to the UFC.
Of course, it makes for a great story if he comes back and wins another championship. But no one really sees that happening.
If Conor really wants it and secludes himself in a tough training camp… But how motivated are you gonna be with $500 million in the bank?
Brown also pushes back against the notion that professional athletes in other sports make even more money than McGregor but remain active in their own careers.
From his perspective, Brown respects LeBron James’ skills but notes James isn’t risking permanent injuries like fighters do.
“These people want to compare it to Kobe [Bryant] or LeBron James… They’re playing f*cking basketball,” Brown said.
“You don’t have to be a dog to be great at basketball… To be a world-class fighter… Michael Chandler is going to come in like a f*cking dog…”
For Conor McGregor, this is just another fight… It doesn’t carry the same significance in any way.”
That’s where Brown disconnects from McGregor’s reason and motivation…
“He doesn’t have the same dog in him that he had before,” Brown said…
If Dustin Poirier made as much money as Conor… If you made that much money…