What’s the hottest topic in the world of MMA, right now? It’s the anticipated comeback of the former dual-weight champion of the world, Conor McGregor. ‘The Notorious’ was supposed to make a comeback but his recent antics appeared to have raised some doubts in the minds of the MMA community including Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren. After the UFC 303 fiasco, Michael Chandler decided to fight Charles Oliveira rather than wait for McGregor. On the other hand, the Irishman seems unfazed by anything that the promotion is doing.

Rec͏entl͏y, Co͏͏nor͏ Mc͏Gregor went ͏͏liv͏e on͏͏ his socia͏l media, and he looked like he was having the time of his life just smoking and drinking his stout. Thi͏s͏ vide͏o f͏rom͏ th͏e ͏former du͏al͏-wei͏͏gh͏t c͏h͏͏a͏mpion has ͏t͏he ͏entire MMA͏ comm͏unity ͏que͏sti͏o͏nin͏g hi͏s͏ ͏͏will to͏ retur͏n to t͏he Octagon ever ͏again. Regardless, let’s have a look at what Cormier and Askren are saying about McGregor.

Daniel Cormier and Ben Askren’s judgment about Conor McGregor’s return

During͏ a͏͏͏ c͏͏͏onve͏rsa͏ti͏o͏n ͏on͏ ‘͏Funky ͏and t͏h͏͏e Ch͏amp͏͏i͏ons͏,’ ͏͏Da͏niel ͏Cormier͏ and Ben ͏A͏s͏k͏͏ren͏ jo͏k͏͏e͏d a͏b͏o͏u͏t ͏the delayed return of Conor McGregor. ͏T͏͏͏͏͏he former͏͏͏ ͏͏we͏lter͏we͏i͏͏͏ght͏ fighte͏r emphas͏iz͏e͏d th͏at McGre͏͏͏gor͏’͏s͏͏ ti͏me͏͏ ͏has offi͏cial͏͏͏ly ͏͏co͏͏me͏͏ to ͏an end, an͏͏d͏͏ ͏he ͏͏i͏͏s neve͏r g͏o͏͏͏͏in͏g to͏͏ ͏͏ret͏urn͏ ͏to͏ t͏he͏ Octago͏n. In͏s͏͏tea͏͏d, Askren͏͏ bel͏ie͏v͏es ͏M͏cG͏re͏g͏or wo͏ul͏d r͏͏a͏ther sp͏en͏͏͏͏͏d ͏his time ͏h͏a͏vi͏ng fu͏͏n. “Give him some w— and give him some alcohol and just let him go, I guess. I don’t think that Conor wants to be shielded. I feel like this was the most gone he’s ever been, like on camera,” said Askren.

Upon listening to Askren’s thoughts, Daniel Cormier laughed out and emphasized that Conor McGregor shouldn’t have gone live in that condition. Asken then came forward to ask, “Why was he doing that?” To which the former light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion said, “Dude, he gets fired up and he’s like, ‘Hey, I want to do a live.’ You just got to go be like, ‘Man, I don’t know if that’s the best idea.'”

After a heavy laughter from both the UFC fighters, Ben Askren asked a rather important question to Cormier, “Does anyone even really take him seriously anymore?” Now this question can have different answers depending on who are you asking, but for Daniel Cormier, people do take Conor McGregor seriously.

Askren couldn’t believe his words as he said, “Who takes him seriously? Belal? Belal was not taking him seriously.” This was in reference to Conor McGregor challenging Belal Muhammad for a welterweight clash but the champ politely declined him stating that he should get some help. Ben Askren put an end to McGregor’s comeback story, “Listen, Chandler chased him for two years. No more. He is not gonna show up.” His comeback story has many roadblocks and one of the biggest is his own consistency. Regardless, what does the UFC CEO have to say about this?

Dana White expresses his opinion on ‘Mystic Mac’s comeback

Conor McGregor and Dana White have been at a crossroads since his anticipated comeback fight against Michael Chandler was derailed due to his toe injury. The UFC CEO asserted that they would not announce anything relating to his comeback until he himself gets in shape. Well, that’s a piece of bad news for McGregor but is he trying to get on the good side of the the UFC CEO again? Well, his recent live stream with DuelBits where he was smoking a cigar and drinking his Forged Irish Stout tells a different story altogether.

Regardless, MMA Journalist, Kevin Iole brought up this conversation in his recent conversation with Dana White, and the UFC CEO’s response was as straightforward as you might expect it to be, “I didn’t see the livestream…..I said that Conor wasn’t fighting till 2025. It is October 1st of 2024 Conor McGregor has plenty of time.”

White’s initial stance was that McGregor would still fight Chandler on his return regardless of the outcome of the latter’s UFC 309 bout. Now, the CEO has slightly changed his tune to his habitual ‘we’ll see how it plays out.’ So, the only thing that is consistent in this saga is the uncertainty surrounding ‘Mystic Mac.’

There is still an unbooked PPV spot available in December for UFC 310. The initial expectation was for Islam Makhachev to headline the Vegas PPV, but recent revelations have him headlining the January 2025 PPV. So could we see McGregor get his much-desired 2024 return in December against someone not named Michael Chandler? Or will White stick to the 2025 plan?

Dana White himself is excited to witness the Conor McGregor fight but he is skeptical of giving a date to the fans. What’s your take on Conor McGregor’s comeback story? State your thoughts in the comments below.