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Opinions are mixed regarding in the Brazilian MMA community regarding Conor McGregor’s return. | Bellator MMA
Among the most debated topics in the MMA community today is the return of the biggest star in the history of the sport, Conor McGregor.
Away from MMA since 2021, when he was injured in a fight with Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, McGregor left many people curious last week when he made an enigmatic post on his X account suggesting that his opponent at the White House will be an unknown.
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“It´s a no name up next to me possibly, folks. And, as you know idgaf, I ACCEPT. Send the contract, lads,” he wrote.
Interestingly, Fighting Nerds coach Flavio Alvaro had said in an exclusive interview with Sherdog days before that fans could expect a huge fight for Prates.
“Something very, very big is coming for him and it will be announced soon, unfortunately I’m not yet authorized to say anything,” said Alvaro.
Since Spanish journalist Alvaro Colmenero had already reported that Ian Garry would be the next to fight for the belt against Islam Makhachev, the statement further piqued the fans’ curiosity.
Then Carlos Prates posted on his X account: “I was told the offer is in your hands. The fans are waiting, I’m waiting… Are we doing this or just playing around? Let’s give the fight of the year, sign this contract, man.”
The post further fueled fans’ curiosity, and the possibility of Prates facing McGregor became the subject of several videos published on major Brazilian channels.
According to journalist Renato Rebello from the Sixth Round Youtube channel, when McGregor discovered that the UFC was no longer interested in his fight with Michael Chandler, he reportedly asked for Dan Ige. According to one of his reliable sources, the UFC allegedly refused and offered him an elite welterweight. In the journalist’s opinion, the chance of McGregor accepting is zero.
Varying Opinions
“First he asked for Chandler, then Ige,” Rebellos said. “After five years of inactivity, it makes no sense for him to fight Prates. The best striker in the division above, five years younger, much bigger, and at his physical and technical peak?
“The reality is that in the new system, the UFC no longer depends on McGregor and pay-per-view sales. In the past, a pay-per-view driven by the Irishman made a difference in the company’s cash flow at the end of the year, but not anymore. Every negotiation is won by whoever cares less, and in this case, it’s clearly the UFC, which will have the highest cost in its history putting on this White House card. If he wants to fight on this card, he will have to compromise, both on the astronomical purse and the opponent choice. Since I don’t see Conor’s ego allowing this, I stand by my prediction. I don’t see Conor returning to fight in the UFC.”
Gilbert Burns, on the other hand, did a video on his channel saying that the UFC fight offer made sense.
“There’s no way to fight against the system,” Burns said. “Not even Conor McGregor can do it. This passing of the baton is part of the sport. The UFC likes Prates, he has charisma. I see Prates beating McGregor and then fighting for the belt in a mega fight.”
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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