Conor McGregor may have surprised fans as he opted not to give a detailed reaction to Saturday night’s UFC main event.
The Irishman has bitter blood feuds with both headliners of UFC 302; Islam Mahachev and Dustin Poirier. But despite his usual history of stealing the headlines with a brash social media post after a big show, he opted to remain calm with his response.
McGregor is currently in training camp for his own return to the octagon later this month at UFC 303. He will face Michael Chandler in what is expected to be one of the biggest pay-per-view events in recent MMA history.
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Conor McGregor refuses to be drawn on Islam Makhachev vs Dustin Poirier
McGregor had a legendary rivalry with Makhachev’s coach Khabib Nurmagomedov that saw the pair fight in 2018. But it has continued through to the current day and seen him make a number of crude comments about the lightweight champion.
And he faced Poirier three times in the UFC, first knocking him out in 2014 amid an intense build-up before rematching him in a friendlier 2021 bout where he was finished. But their feud turned bitter in the lead-in to their trilogy, which ended in a TKO for the American after McGregor snapped his leg.
The Irishman hasn’t fought since that night against Poirier, taking three years out to recover from the horror injury. And he still feels there is unfinished business between the pair, telling fans recently that he views the series as still set at 1-1.
But he wouldn’t be drawn into a statement after watching his two rivals square off. The former two-weight world champion took to X immediately after the bout to leave a cryptic message that was believed to be about the event.
His post read: “I’ll get back to ya’s tomorrow. CMG.” He also shared a training video captioned: “20KO’s up next for the Mac Dad.”
Dustin Poirier considering retirement after UFC 302 defeat to Islam Makhachev
The entirety of the build-up to Saturday night’s event was based around Poirier’s final pursuit of undisputed UFC gold. He had already fell at the final hurdle twice prior against Khabib Nurmagomedov and Charles Oliveira, and failed again at his third time of asking.
The commonly held belief was that Poirier would retire in the case of a defeat given that his path back to the division’s summit at the age of 35 would be an almost insurmountable one. But he refused to lay his gloves down while speaking with Joe Rogan after submitting to a D’arce choke in the fifth round.
“I know I can compete with the best of these guys,” he said in an emotional interview. “It’s just that if I do fight again what am I fighting for? Just to fight? I’ve done that 50 times. I don’t know, I’ve got a little girl I love and I’ve got to see. I think this could be it, honestly Joe.
“I’m not 100 per cent but if this is my last fight, I want to dedicate this journey to the people that made me the man I am. That’s the women in my life.
“To my grandmother, I miss you every day and I know I’m still protected by your prayers. To my mother, I know we’ve had a crazy life, I love you, thanks for always having my back.
“And to my wife, I love you so much. I wouldn’t be standing right here without you and, babe, Jolie, I don’t know if I’d be breathing if it wasn’t for you. And to Parker, Daddy’s fine, I love you so much, I’m so proud of you, we’re alright baby. Always chase your dreams, it’s beautiful things.”