Conor McGregor has been called many things and ‘dr-g addict’ was one of them. Sean O’Malley and Chael Sonnen were just a couple of entities who called out McGregor’s apparent indulgence in habit-forming substances. But things seemed to have died down a bit until Joe Rogan decided to dig up some dirt. With the MMA realm anticipating the Irishman’s expected return to the Octagon in late 2025, the UFC color commentator added one more worry to the list.

Talking to Derek Munro from More Plates More Dates on episode #2239 of the JRE, Rogan pointed out there was a constant risk of damage to the fighters’ bodies, which ultimately pushed them towards dr-g abuse. He said, “I think there’s another issue to talk about and that is that a lot of fighters, when they’ve sustained a significant amount of damage over the course of their career and there’s no way to not get that, right? We’ve all seen Conor get beat up and knocked out, we’ve seen Conor’s sparring footage. He spars pro boxers, he’s sparring elite fighters. You’re getting hit in the head a lot. And a lot of fighters, especially towards the end of their career, turn to dr-gs.”

Fighting in the long run indeed takes a toll on a fighter’s body. The adrenaline rush maintained for a longer time during sparring and bouts often causes a gradual decrease in dopamine levels. This in turn requires them to stay in an excited state for a longer period of time to get the same level of satisfaction. Otherwise, it’d be nothing but discomfort. Reflecting on this, Rogan said, “And I think there’s probably a constant state of discomfort that they live in, where their dopamine levels are all f—ed up, their cortisol levels are all f—ed up…” He continued, “You’re not supposed to get punched in the head a thousand times a year. It’s just not supposed to happen. And that’s the reality of consistent training.” 

Another aspect of McGregor’s reliance on alcohol and other substances came from his ginormous surplus of money. The JRE host previously made a comment on this, claiming that things began to change for McGregor following his fight against Floyd Mayweather. During a conversation with Josh Brolin in episode #2232 of the JRE, Rogan explained how fighters like ‘The Notorious’ self-destructed. Rogan reasoned, “It’s money, it’s a lot of partying.” But what did Rogan think of McGregor’s return? Let’s find out!

Joe Rogan reveals his doubts about Conor McGregor returning to the UFC

As the conversation with Munro continued, the 57-year-old podcaster stumbled upon the Irish fighter’s legal troubles. Dana White affirmed that McGregor would return in 2025, but Rogan was doubtful of it. He said, “I don’t know if Conor’s ever going to fight again.” Ever since the Dubliner lost the civil case against Nikita Hand, his professional life came tumbling down. But one thing was pretty evident. McGregor was often seen partying. 

Rogan continued, “I don’t know the real details of that case. I know his version of it and her version of it and what played out in the court. But the reality is that guy’s partying, and he’s partying real hard and he talked about it [partying] in the court case.” Needless to say, the former UFC double champion could return only when he cleared his public image.

This was not-so-subtly hinted by Dana White at the UFC 310 press conference. Responding to a question about the current situation with the Irish star, White said, “What do you mean, what’s my reaction? If I had a comment, I would have put it out already… He hasn’t been fighting here in I don’t know how long. Well, if he does fight, it’ll be sometime next year.” This is a clear indicator that the promotion would not want to touch its biggest-ever star with a 10-foot pole right now.

Now, all that we as fans can do is wait and watch the story unfold. McGregor has already declared that he would file an appeal and exercise his rights. If the court accepts the appeal, we might just get to see McGregor inside the Octagon. But if the court decides otherwise, things would become even worse for the ‘Mystic Mac’. 

What do you think of Conor McGregor’s troubles with law and substances? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.