Conor McGregor’s visit to the White House reinforces he won’t be fighting any time soon
McGregor last fought in July of 2021
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The MMA Notebook runs every Friday.
In this edition:
Conor McGregor’s trip to the White House reinforces notion that he won’t be fighting any time soon
Leon Edwards returns to the cage this Saturday–but not in a title bout
Weekend predictions
Conor McGregor stirs controversy at the White House
Yes, that was Conor McGregor at the White House this past Monday.
McGregor was a guest of President Donald Trump, and the two planned a St. Patrick’s Day meeting. As benign as that sounds, it featured its share of controversy.
Only days after Irish leader Micheál Martin visited D.C., McGregor took the pulpit and declared his concerns about immigration issues in Ireland. This did not sit well with Martin, who posted on Twitter that “St. Patrick’s Day around the world is a day rooted in community, humanity, friendship and fellowship. Conor McGregor’s remarks are wrong, and do not reflect the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, or the views of the people of Ireland.”
What does all of this mean?
All it does is reinforce the notion that McGregor won’t be fighting again any time soon.
McGregor hasn’t competed in the Octagon since 2021. Despite filming The Ultimate Fighter, he never fulfilled his obligation for a bout against Michael Chandler. He is a tremendous spokesperson/co-owner for BKFC, but there is no reason to believe that McGregor will be fighting, boxing, or stepping into the bare knuckle ring.
His days as a competitor represent a golden age of the sport, and there are now too many fighters to list who attempt to be the next Conor McGregor. The visit to the White House showed that McGregor has many avenues to pursue, though fighting is not one of them.
Where would he even fit in the UFC? He isn’t a lightweight. And why would he even risk fighting? His interests lay elsewhere.
McGregor’s future holds all sorts of possibilities, but fighting is no longer a priority.
Leon Edwards returns to action for first bout since title loss
It is somehow fitting that Leon Edwards did not receive an immediate title shot.
Edwards rattled off a winning streak that extended from 2016 all the way until 2021 before he finally got a welterweight title shot. He then took the belt from Kamaru Usman in 2022, as well as won their rematch before outclassing Colby Covington. Altogether, Edwards went undefeated in 13 straight fights, winning 12 of them, before losing the title this past summer to Belal Muhammad.
Despite all that, Edwards, 33, is not receiving a rematch for the belt. Instead, he fights Sean Brady in tomorrow’s UFC Fight Night headline bout in London.
Brady (17-1) has won his last two, defeating Kevin Gastelum and Gilbert Burns. His lone loss came at the hands of Muhammad in October of 2022. Filling in as a short-notice replacement for Jack Della Maddalena, who is now getting the title shot against Muhammad in May, this is Brady’s chance to jump Edwards and be next in line for the belt.
On paper, Edwards (22-4, 1 NC) should win. But it’s hard to predict this outcome.
A critical part during Edwards’ loss to Muhammad occurred in the first round when he was dropped on his head. From that point on, Edwards was never the same. So this fight will be telling.
Edwards’ performance here should show if he is entering his decline. Or if he is still elite and it was the blow to his head that caused the last defeat. Brady enters the slight favorite, but a lot of that has to do with the fact that Edwards lost his last bout.
The winner will become top contender. We’ll learn if Edwards is still elite. If he is, he’ll secure a rematch for the title.
The Pick ‘Em Section
UFC Fight Night welterweight bout: Leon Edwards vs. Sean Brady
Pick: Leon Edwards
UFC Fight Night light heavyweight bout: Jan Blachowicz vs. Carlos Ulberg
Pick: Carlos Ulberg
UFC Fight Night welterweight bout: Gunnar Nelson vs. Kevin Holland
Pick: Kevin Holland
UFC Fight Night women’s strawweight bout: Molly McCann vs. Alexia Thainara
Pick: Alexia Thainara
UFC Fight Night heavyweight bout: Marcin Tybura vs. Mick Parkin
Pick: Mick Parkin