Although the most famous name in mixed martial arts, Conor McGregor, is still set on fighting, his recent BKFC 70 post-fight presser comments (h/t theMacLife) mark the first time in recent years that it has sounded like he could actually hang up his gloves anytime soon.
McGregor suffered a gruesome broken ankle in 2021, which lost him the trilogy against Dustin Poirier and kept him out of competition thereafter, only being booked to face Michael Chandler in the four years since.
The famously determined Irishman has always said he still wants to fight, but his potential run for president of Ireland could get in the way of that.
“I’ve got two fights on the contract, I’m in negotiations,” McGregor said. “Last week something happened to me, I went to the White House…and my heart bleeds for my country right now. There’s a lot of stuff going on back home; I’m happy with what I’ve done. There’s something else for me that’s in my gut right now and that’s kind of where I’m going. So, we’ll see. Greatness does not rush.”
Did Conor McGregor just admit he could actually be done with fighting?! 😳
“I’ve got two fights on the contract… I’m happy with what I’ve done. There’s something else for me right now.” 👀 pic.twitter.com/eOf1LHkLCJ
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) March 28, 2025
It does not sound like Conor plans to hang up his gloves given that he is in negotiations, but if his campaign to become Irish president becomes a full-time commitment, that could always change.
However, to be officially nominated to become president of Ireland, which is a largely ceremonial institution, one needs the nomination of at least 20 members of the Oireachtas—Irish Parliament—or by at least four of Ireland’s 31 local authorities.
McGregor has become an unpopular figure to many in his native country due to his history of sensationalized statements and criminal acts, including recently being found liable for sexual assault in his birth city of Dublin.
As a result, experts have said it is unlikely to find twenty parliament members who would risk nominating him.
Conor is still interested in fighting, clearly, as evidenced by his part ownership of Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship and the fact that he is entertaining negotiations for other fights, like an upcoming non-UFC event on Alcatraz Island.
“There’s an event going on in Alcatraz in, I believe, June. They came to me and it wasn’t my worth. As a fighter, we’ve got to know our worth. I hold every pay-per-view record in the book, I hold every gate record in the book, and my comeback will be slated as the greatest or the biggest, most anticipated comeback of all time. So, it has to be right. Right now, Ireland is in my thoughts and that’s where I’m at, but it will happen, I am sure and it’s always great to be here.”
The fans McGregor has left will hope to see him avoid distractions and return to the UFC octagon soon for a superfight, with options like Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and the aforementioned Mike Chandler being available.
Honestly, the Irish presidential run may be a fit of fancy, or ego, for the ‘Notorious’ one, as he says a big reason he is even doing it is just so he can be announced in the cage as Irish president, on top of being a former double champion.
“F**king right I will, of course, are you crazy? That’s part of why I want to do it, to be announced as the President of Ireland while having a fight? Imagine that. But for sure, h*ll yes, h*ll yes.”
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