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A former UFC lightweight champion has thrown cold water on the hype surrounding Conor McGregor’s long-awaited Octagon return—and his take is as blunt as it gets. McGregor, the sport’s most polarizing star, hasn’t fought since a gruesome leg break derailed his 2021 trilogy bout against Dustin Poirier. Despite two fights remaining on his UFC contract, the Irishman’s comeback remains shrouded in uncertainty, with no official date in sight.
Now, a fellow ex-titleholder has delivered a reality check, urging fans to abandon hope of seeing “The Notorious” throw hands again.
“Forget Conor McGregor”: Charles Oliveira’s blunt reality check
Charles Oliveira, the Brazilian submission maestro who once ruled the lightweight division, didn’t mince words when asked about McGregor’s future.
“To be honest, I don’t know why people are still talking about Conor McGregor,” he told Oddspedia. “He’s done everything he wanted to do in the sport, and now he’s choosing to live his life the way he’s living it.”
Oliveira’s skepticism stems from Conor McGregor’s prolonged absence and recent antics—like his controversial St. Patrick’s Day appearance at the White House, where he fielded political questions before being cut off by staff. While some fans praised McGregor’s crossover appeal (“Nobody will transcend Conor’s popularity in MMA”), others roasted his relevance (“Khabib finished Conor in every way”). For Charles Oliveira, though, the writing’s on the wall:
“We’ve been waiting for him to come back, and Michael Chandler has been waiting for about two years… I think fans should forget about Conor McGregor coming back; he’s not going to fight again.”
Legacy vs. lifestyle: McGregor’s crossroads
McGregor’s career arc—from two-division champ to part-time celebrity—has left many questioning his hunger. Oliveira’s critique cuts deeper, framing the Irishman’s hiatus as a conscious choice, not a hiatus. “He’s choosing to live his life,” the Brazilian stressed, alluding to Conor McGregor’s ventures beyond MMA, including his Proper No. Twelve whiskey and acting gigs.
Chandler, who’s been publicly courting McGregor for a showdown since 2022, now faces a ghosting saga emblematic of the Dubliner’s priorities. Charles Oliveira’s verdict? “He’s not going to fight again.”
For a fighter who once declared “We’re not here to take part—we’re here to take over!” Oliveira’s dismissal is a sobering epitaph. Whether fans accept it or cling to hope, one thing’s clear: the Conor McGregor era, as we knew it, is over.
