mobile app bar

VIDEO: ‘McGregor Forever’ Reveals Conor McGregor Was Forced to Stay Inactive During Covid Despite Jorge Masvidal, Justin Gaethje & Anderson Silva Call-Out

Afnan Chougle
Published

Is Conor McGregor the Highest-Paid UFC Fighter?

The recently released Conor McGregor Netflix Documentary ‘McGregor Forever’ sheds insight into the former UFC champion’s professional and personal life. Fans got to witness McGregor prepare for some of his biggest battles and how he dealt with life’s challenges. The documentary’s candid tone has earned it significant appreciation from viewers.

Having said that, the documentary recently uncovered the cause for McGregor’s lack of participation in promotion despite being in good form. Let’s look at the circumstances that led to ‘The Notorious’ taking a step back in his career.

Conor McGregor was forced to stay inactive

After earning the double champion milestone in 2016, Conor McGregor crossed paths with legendary boxer Floyd Mayweather. Although the Irishman lost against ‘TBE’, the bout turned out to be the biggest hit in combat sports history.

Following that, McGregor returned to the UFC to compete for the lightweight title but was defeated by Khabib Nurmagomedov in 2018. Despite the critics, ‘The Notorious’ returned to the win column in 2020, defeating Donald Cerrone.

Audie Attar, President of Paradigm Sports Management and McGregor’s manager, indicated in the documentary that they were aiming to stay active in the division after that victory.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by HOME OF FIGHT (@homeoffight)

Even McGregor mentioned his interest in fighting the likes of Anderson Silva, Jorge Masvidal, & Justin Gaethje. But the Dubliner stated indicated that the UFC never approached him about the match throughout those years.

Given the timeline, the world was struck by the Covid pandemic. Although the UFC held events on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, fans were not permitted inside the venue.

As a result, it’s not difficult to understand why the promotion didn’t want its cash cow to compete at such a time. McGregor is one of the biggest stars in the UFC. In fact, he is one in a million.

McGregor brings in massive gates for the promotion with hefty pay-per-views. Allowing him to participate during covid hours would have resulted in a big loss in the gates. As a result, it appeared to be a sensible business choice. However, as a result, ‘The Notorious’ might have lost his peak years.

McGregor’s reaction after Khabib Nurmagomedov’s loss

Fight fans were provided access to Conor McGregor’s 2018 defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in a startling behind-the-scenes look. The much-anticipated UFC 229 bout for the Lightweight Championship was overshadowed by the two competitors’ heated animosity, which was underlined by fiery exchanges both online and in person.

Nurmagomedov eventually won with a fourth-round submission, but McGregor’s emotional battle to accept defeat took center stage. A clip from his documentary, “McGregor Forever,” has surfaced, showing an emotional McGregor seeking comfort from his instructors and loved ones. Even words from UFC President Dana White couldn’t take McGregor’s mind off the sour taste of loss.

What is your reaction to the video? What do you guys think about Conor McGregor’s inactivity during covid?

About the author

Afnan Chougle

Afnan Chougle

x-iconlinkedin-icon

Afnan Chougle is a UFC author and content manager at The SportsRush. Afnan has written over 900 articles about combat sports before joining The SportsRush. He has now worked in the industry for over two years. He uses his expertise and enthusiasm to advance his professional career and offers insightful commentary on anything related to combat sports. Since UFC 229, Khabib Nurmagomedov fan Afnan has faithfully followed MMA. Besides "The Eagle," Muhammad Ali is his favorite athlete. Apart from his professional exploits as a UFC journalist, Afnan enjoys honing his skills as an amateur actor/boxer and loves going on occasional treks.

Share this article