Since his withdrawal from UFC 303, Conor McGregor has received criticism from the combat sports community, with an MMA icon telling him he’ll never fight again.
‘The Notorious’ was scheduled to make his eagerly-anticipated comeback on June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. However, his hopes of getting back to doing what he does best were crushed when an injury forced him to pull out.
Ben Askren warns Conor McGregor he’ll never fight again
In the three years since Conor McGregor last competed, MMA has continued to evolve, with a plethora of fresh faces solidifying their places as bonafide legends.
At lightweight, the Irishman’s old rival, Khabib Nurmagmedov, has helped guide his friend, Islam Makhachev, to pound-for-pound supremacy. While at light heavyweight, Alex Pereira has blitzed through the competition to become the new ‘face’ of the promotion, showcasing a left hand possibly even more deadly than McGregor’s.
However, despite the sport’s constant growth, in terms of star power, no one comes close to the Dubliner.
Therefore, when his long-awaited comeback against Michael Chandler was announced, UFC enthusiasts across the globe joined in unison to count down the days.
Rivalry: Anderson Silva confesses the real reason he didn’t try to win his trilogy fight with Chael Sonnen
With a desire to settle their differences in the cage, the pair caught the imagination of the fans through an intense season of The Ultimate Fighter. However, in the end, the contest everyone so desperately wanted to see, has fallen by the wayside.
After breaking his little toe, McGregor has made the heartbreaking decision to pull out. This has sparked a massive reaction from MMA purists, with many critiquing the 2x champion’s call.
In his defense, McGregor has uploaded images of the injury, proving its validity, and with the extent of the damage, it’s clear he couldn’t fight to his maximum potential. However, some have pointed out that he slammed Rafael Dos Anjos for withdrawing from a match-up with him for a broken foot.
Regardless, a plethora of athletes have made their stance on the situation known, with former Bellator and One Championship title holder, Ben Askren, issuing a stark warning.
He tweeted: “So, you’re never going to fight again….. I guess we all suspected this.”
The Olympian’s harsh words may ring true. However, there’s every chance McGregor will recover from the injury and make his return as promised. Regardless, Askren isn’t the only one firing shots.
Ilia Topuria slams Conor McGregor after UFC 303 withdrawal
Since McGregor’s time on the 145-pound throne, a lot has changed in the featherweight division. Both Max Holloway and Alexander Volkanovski have proven themselves as two of the best to ever compete in the weight class.
And now, Ilia Topuria is making waves as a heavy-handed fighter, capable of rendering his opponents unconscious with a single shot.
His victory over ‘The Great’ was nothing short of scintillating, and with massive support in Spain, his fans one day hope for a historic showdown at Real Madrid’s football stadium.
He’s also not shy of voicing his opinion. From a near brawl with Paddy Pimblett, captured during a UFC London fight week, to arguing at press conferences, he always puts on a show. And on this occasion, he’s taken aim at his division’s old champion.
The 27-year-old recently took to social media to post a brutal tweet, calling McGregor ‘mentally broken’ and that this attitude problem is his “biggest lesson” to learn.
WOW: Jake Paul makes surprise admission about Nate Diaz fight