Conor McGregor is never far from the spotlight. Recently, rumors of a potential boxing showdown with Logan Paul reignited the buzz around McGregor’s return to fighting. But as exciting as that may sound, questions linger about his path back to the UFC. With reportedly two fights left on his contract and a history of unpredictable moves, will ‘The Notorious’ leave the Octagon behind for greener pastures?

According to Eddie Alvarez, who has shared the cage with the Irishman in the past, dealing with the UFC and Dana White is rarely that simple. Drawing from his own experiences in Bellator, ‘The Underground King’ recently shared a word of caution for McGregor and the storm he might face!

Conor McGregor handed a bold warning about the difficulties of pursuing a UFC exit 

Eddie Alvarez knows what it’s like to be the top guy for a promotion, having held titles in the UFC and Bellator. In a recent conversation with MMA Fighting, Alvarez confessed, “I haven’t been as valuable as Conor but back when I was basically Bellator’s main guy, I know how difficult it is to get out of those contracts. They don’t make it easy…”

Back in 2012, as Bellator’s top star, he tried to break free and join the UFC. What followed was a two-year legal battle—lawsuits, counterclaims, and negotiations. Even after settling, he had to endure more fights before finally escaping the grip of his contract. If it was that hard for him, how much harder would it be for McGregor, whose star power dwarfs nearly everyone else in combat sports?

One just has to look at the top 10 highest-earning PPV list for the UFC to understand how valuable McGregor is to the promotion and Dana White as his name dominates the list more than any other fighter. As such, Alvarez continued, “For him, making (the UFC) hundreds of millions of dollars, I don’t think it’s going to be an easy exit.”

Conor McGregor’s value to the UFC isn’t just in pay-per-view buys. It’s a cornerstone of their global appeal. With the UFC eyeing a lucrative new broadcast deal in 2025, the Irishman’s presence in the company may also be a massive bargaining chip, adding more weight to Alvarez’s statements.

While the UFC and Dana White hold most of the cards, McGregor’s knack for the unexpected keeps fans guessing. But according to a UFC veteran, it’s looking like the chances of ‘The Notorious’ returning to the Octagon are getting slimmer by the day!

‘The Immortal’ believes McGregor’s return to the UFC is not happening

According to UFC boss Dana White in an interview on ‘The Jim Rome Show’, “When Conor comes back, which I see being sometime the later part of next year, we’ll see where everybody’s at and what’s going on and we’ll figure out who faces Conor.” But with the conversation surrounding his rumored boxing match with Logan Paul dominating the headlines recently, is the dream over for ‘The Notorious’s return to action?

In a blunt statement on ‘The Fighter vs The Writer’ Matt Brown didn’t mince any words when talking about the Irishman’s future. The UFC veteran stated, “Does he fight in the UFC? I think that’s a clear no. Does he fight outside the UFC? I think it’s always possible for him to fight outside the UFC, if the UFC allows it. I don’t know if the UFC is going to get behind it. I just don’t know how those deals are going to play out.”

Brown further explained that the allure of the payday in a boxing match against Logan Paul cannot be denied. Why? “There’s so much money to be made doing a Logan Paul fight. Of course, he would do that. He doesn’t have to come back and fight a f**king Islam [Makhachev] or something or Dustin Poirier or [Nate] Diaz or anything.”

With a history of defying expectations and breaking barriers, it’s hard to count the Irishman out of any scenario. Yet, the road ahead seems tangled. Eddie Alvarez’s cautionary tale offers a stark reminder of the complexities involved when star athletes try to leave a powerful promotion like the UFC.

Dana White’s optimism about a 2025 return adds a glimmer of hope for fans craving another Octagon spectacle. But with Matt Brown’s blunt skepticism and the lure of boxing’s massive paydays, McGregor’s path feels less like a straight road and more like a maze. So, what’s next for ‘The Notorious’? Will he shock the world with a UFC comeback, or will he continue chasing greener pastures in the boxing ring and beyond? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!