It’s hard to argue against the success Conor McGregor has achieved in his career! From humble beginnings that included a plumber’s apprenticeship in Ireland to being ranked the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2021, the Irish MMA icon’s story is nothing short of a fairy tale. However, everything comes at a price and according to UFC CEO Dana White, success and wealth inevitably change an athlete.

The UFC boss drew parallels between NFL legend Tom Brady and Conor McGregor to highlight how two different athletes from different sports faced the same challenges with fame and fortune. But only one of them managed to come out of it on the other side without losing themselves in the glitz and the glamour.

Dana White reveals how Tom Brady did what Conor McGregor couldn’t 

On ‘Club Shay Shay’ podcast, Shannon Sharpe kicked off the discussion by acknowledging McGregor’s rise from humble beginnings to immense success with the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight as he inquired, “Did you think that 100 million changed Conor, does he still have the desire to go train and punch people in the face and get kicked in the face like he did when he was broke?”

White responded by asserting that it is impossible for money not to affect someone. He praised Tom Brady for his exceptional ability to stay grounded despite his wealth and stated, “…one of the things that makes Brady so incredible and unique is that not only did he every year strive to get better and better, he was never one of these guys that tried to break the bank and you know, be the highest paid guy. He would actually take less money to build a better team.”

The UFC boss then pointed out that this mindset has cemented Brady’s legacy as the GOAT, ensuring he will continue to generate wealth long after his playing days. However, when compared to Conor McGregor, White revealed, “The thing in fighting, the hard part about the combat sports world is, once you start to make that kind of money and you want to say, well it never changed me, it’s impossible not change.”

While he lauded the Irishman for his business acumen and ability to capitalize on his fame and personality outside of the Octagon, he brought up the fact that “…to stay on top of your game for many, many years, is very hard to do, especially once money becomes involved.”

Sharpe then noted the unique challenges in combat sports, where there’s no way to “duck and dodge” and White concurred, highlighting the fact that, “…you have a team around you, that where you might slack a little bit other people can pick up right and carry it, you can’t get carried in this sport.”

This discussion highlighted the stark reality of how success and money influence athletes differently, ultimately shaping their careers and legacies in distinct ways. And with the UFC 303 debacle dominating the news recently, Dana White has come out to make a stunning statement about Conor McGregor’s return to the Octagon.

UFC boss in limbo over McGregor’s future after UFC 303 debacle  

The MMA fandom recently had its hopes dashed as Conor McGregor was announced to be out of his June 29 clash against Michael Chandler. According to the statement released by McGregor, he suffered from an undisclosed injury that led to the UFC 303 fight being canceled.

As such, in his recent appearance on ‘The Jim Rome Show,’ UFC boss Dana White stated, “He’s got plenty of money, and I don’t ever think that guys like that – Jon Jones, who knows? Maybe he’ll fight again. Maybe he won’t. Conor McGregor – maybe he’ll fight again, maybe he won’t. You never know with some of the guys that get to that level.”

In conclusion, as fans eagerly await further updates, the impact of McGregor’s absence from UFC 303 is a reminder of the difficulties in maintaining peak performance amidst fame and fortune. Whether McGregor will fight again is now a question only time will answer. What are your thoughts on Dana White’s comparisons between Tom Brady and Conor McGregor? And will the Irishman step into the Octagon this year? Let us know in the comments below.