Is the dream of Conor McGregor’s UFC return crumbling in front of his eyes? From headline victories to being sidelined by controversy, ‘The Notorious’ has found himself grappling with legal battles, financial hits, and a stalled comeback in recent months. With a $260,000 judgment against him in Dublin civil court and major sponsors like Proximo Spirits and IO Interactive pulling their support, there’s a storm surrounding the Irishman.
Now, to add to his woes, it looks like the MMA sphere is seemingly moving on from waiting for his return. While UFC CEO Dana White had indicated in an interview with Jim Rome “When Conor comes back, which I see being sometime the later part of next year”, Michael Chandler has now been told not to hold his breath and move on to another intriguing matchup!
Dana White in a tough spot with Conor McGregor’s return as Michael Chandler receives fresh challenge
In a recent exchange on X, when asked by a fan who ‘Iron’ Michael Chandler would like to face in 2025, he gave an interesting response as he stated, “Conor then Jorge.” But will he get the McGregor fight that he’s been waiting for ever since their appearance as coaches on TUF 31 (The Ultimate Fighter)? In fact, after his recent UFC 309 loss against Charles Oliveira, Chandler had fired off another shot at the Irishman by challenging him to return to the Octagon to face him.
But according to Ali Abdelaziz, manager for a lot of top UFC stars, that ship might have already sailed. In his response to Chandler on X, Abdelaziz shared, “Hey you know Conor is not coming back but @GamebredFighter said he will fight you, call your boss Champ”
Jorge Masvidal, a name synonymous with street fighting grit and high-octane rivalries, is positioning himself for a UFC return. After a series of losses, including back-to-back defeats to Kamaru Usman and a grudge match loss to Colby Covington, Masvidal had stepped away from the Octagon in 2023.
Recently, he teased his April 2025 UFC comeback during an interview with Jake Shields as he stated, “I’ll be back in April next year in the UFC, we don’t have the opponent yet, hopefully by December we’ve got the opponent and April, Miami card”
Now the question becomes, will UFC boss Dana White choose to move on from the Chandler vs McGregor bout that has become a massive ‘what if’? While Jorge Masvidal plots his return, Conor McGregor’s future remains a question mark. The legal troubles, waning partnerships, and delayed UFC plans have left most fans wondering, has the sport moved on without him?
But according to Ali Abdelaziz, manager for a lot of top UFC stars, that ship might have already sailed. In his response to Chandler on X, Abdelaziz shared, “Hey you know Conor is not coming back but @GamebredFighter said he will fight you, call your boss Champ”
Jorge Masvidal, a name synonymous with street fighting grit and high-octane rivalries, is positioning himself for a UFC return. After a series of losses, including back-to-back defeats to Kamaru Usman and a grudge match loss to Colby Covington, Masvidal had stepped away from the Octagon in 2023.
Hey you know Conor is not coming back but @GamebredFighter said he will fight you, call your boss Champ https://t.co/I6INpaqLNT
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) December 4, 2024
Matt Brown warns McGregor that the UFC “can’t save him” in his current predicament
There was a time when Conor McGregor’s name was synonymous with glory. But like a shooting star, his brilliance seems to have burned out. According to UFC veteran Matt Brown, speaking on a recent episode of ‘The Fighter vs The Writer’, “Conor’s going to be in a s—storm here, Obviously he’s going to be fined financially, I don’t think he’s got any problems there. But I think public wise, publicity wise, it’s going to hurt him for sure.”
Brown pointed out that regardless of what happens in the coming months, McGregor is already paying a steep price in public trust. The fiery Irishman, once seen as a lovable rogue, may have crossed a line many find unforgivable. But the UFC veteran didn’t stop there as he continued, “No one’s going to be the one to save him in this situation. The UFC can’t save him. He has to do the right things.”
For McGregor, the first step might be turning away from the club lights and getting back to the discipline that built his empire. And what better way to get back to his old ways than putting in the work in the gym and preparing for a fight?
Because even as Dana White may still hold out hope for a late 2025 return, the sands of time are shifting. Fighters like Michael Chandler are being nudged toward fresh rivalries, and the allure of waiting for ‘The Notorious’ appears to be wearing thin. Do you think we’ll see Conor McGregor back in action in 2025? Why or Why not? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!