Conor McGregor holds the title of the biggest superstar ever to grace the UFC octagon and is widely acknowledged for his significant contributions to the sport.
‘The Notorious’ made a memorable debut in the UFC with a first-round knockout victory over Marcus Brimmage on April 6, 2013. Since then, McGregor has headlined five of the six highest-earning pay-per-view events in UFC history.
Given his marketability, it’s logical for the UFC to capitalize on their cash cow as frequently as possible. However, McGregor sustained a severe leg fracture during his trilogy fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in July 2021 and has been sidelined ever since.
Following an extensive period of physical rehabilitation, he returned as a coach on last year’s ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ reality show and promoted a potential comeback bout against rival coach Michael Chandler. Yet, their fight hasn’t been officially announced and isn’t scheduled for the milestone UFC 300 event.
With the UFC’s most prominent star absent from their recent significant card, many have questioned if the promotion has moved on from the Irishman. Nonetheless, the UFC boasts a plethora of MMA superstars.
Fighters like Israel Adesanya, Sean O’Malley, Sean Strickland, and Jon Jones are among the most popular fighters today and could easily attract ticket sales whenever necessary. However, given McGregor’s pay-per-view track record, it might be advantageous for the UFC to have ‘The Notorious’ back on their active roster.
The Irishman still commands more social media followers than any other MMA fighter and is widely recognized as a mainstream celebrity today. If the UFC aims to host a blockbuster event, it’s reasonable to believe that there’s no better option than the former two-division champion.
