Conor McGregor’s defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov remains one of the most talked-about fights in UFC history. Fans and pundits constantly argue over what went wrong for the Irishman. ‘The Notorious’ has offered a variety of justifications over the years, ranging from a fractured foot to drinking alcohol before the fight. However, Joe Rogan feels the true reason resides in the version of McGregor who did not appear that night—the one who defeated Eddie Alvarez in 2016.

During his Fight Companion livestream, the UFC commentator discussed how much McGregor had changed between winning the lightweight belt and challenging Khabib two years later. “Who was it that said—someone said recently—that if the Conor McGregor who beat Eddie Alvarez faced Khabib, it would have been a completely different fight?” the JRE host inquired. When Brendan Schaub mentioned that he might have said that, Joe Rogan underlined his point.

He said, “I listened to that, and I said, ‘You know what? I think that’s true.’ I think he was a different guy. I think he was a different guy. He was a f—— animal.” McGregor’s performance versus Alvarez at UFC 205 has cemented a spot as one of the best displays of striking in MMA history. His movement, precision, and confidence in that fight made him nearly untouchable. But by the time McGregor met ‘The Eagle,’ that version of the Irishman was long gone.

While the JRE host believed in McGregor’s skills, Bryan Callen quickly challenged Rogan’s take. He argued that even peak Conor McGregor would have struggled against Khabib Nurmagomedov’s relentless grappling. However, Joe Rogan believed that the Irishman could have found the answer in his footwork.

 “Oh, it was always going to be a problem. But Conor was so f—— good on his feet back then.” Schaub agreed, adding, “So good. So elusive too.” Well, it is sad to even think of the fact that we did not get to see the prime version of The Irishman against ‘The Eagle.’ But according to the UFC commentator, there is another reason he lost against the Dagestani.

Joe Rogan blames Floyd Mayweather fight for Conor McGregor’s defeat

While the JRE host believes the prime version of Conor McGregor might have put up a much better fight against Khabib Nurmagomedov, he also highlighted when things began to go wrong for the Irishman. According to Joe Rogan, what actually went wrong for ‘The Notorious’ was that he agreed to fight Floyd Mayweather in 2017. While the big boxing fight earned him a whopping $130 million, his MMA skills recorded a decline.

Speaking on the same edition of Fight Companion, Joe Rogan explained how McGregor’s decision to focus entirely on boxing for months left him unprepared for the elite grappling threats that awaited him in the UFC. “You get ready for a boxing match with one of the all-time greats. You gotta take six months where you’re not doing any takedowns, no leg kicks, no nothing. All you’re doing is boxing. You’re not gonna take any extra energy and train your f—— Jiu-Jitsu when you’re training for a Floyd Mayweather boxing match.”

By the time McGregor returned to MMA, he had spent nearly a year completely ignoring the skills that had propelled him to two-division championship status. Against Khabib Nurmagomedov, his once-exceptional footwork was sluggish. His timing was off, and his takedown defense, which he had used well against previous opponents, proved ineffectual against the Dagestani’s persistent pressure. But what do you think? Do you agree with Joe Rogan’s opinion? Let us know in the comments.