Amidst everything, it could potentially be a tough year for the UFC, according to predictions and projections. Speculations about Conor McGregor leaving the sport have been in the air for some time, but now, as the year progresses, predictions suggest McGregor isn’t the only one who could retire. This year might mark the final appearances in the octagon for many others.
Is Conor McGregor Retiring?
Recently in an interview with ESPN MMA, fighter Michael Chandler shared his belief that the upcoming match against Conor McGregor might mark the UFC star’s final fight. The UFC recently confirmed the bout between the two fighters is indeed set for June. This fight, scheduled for June 29, will in fact see McGregor stepping into the cage after an absence of nearly three years. He said,
“I do, I think I’ll be the last person,—I think I dominate him in a fashion that – it’s almost as if he can keep trying to come back, but he will have lost the fan’s interest so much more after I do what I’m gonna do to him on June 29th.”
He further continued,
“There’s definitely a certain aspect of that – revenge aspect. Make him pay for the last year. Some of it was outside of his control, but a lot of it he created… I didn’t think it would be delayed this long, and all of that is just deposits in the bank of me wanting to absolutely smash this dude…I don’t need to get emotional about it and fight outside of myself, but there will be an extra hint of satisfaction of I think ending this guy’s career.”
While merely speculative, discussions on this matter remain a hot topic; furthermore, should 2024 not indeed mark his retirement year, McGregor, aiming to exceed Anderson Silva’s knockout record, previously announced his plan to engage in 2 or 3 more fights before a potential retirement, considering his current yearly fighting frequency, which might imply a retirement timeline between 2025 and 2026, contingent upon his physical condition.
Fighters Who Can Retire in 2024 Besides Conor McGregor
New speculations indicate that Conor McGregor may not be the sole retiring fighter this year, with the potential comebacks of notable names like Nate Diaz, Kamaru Usman, Henry Cejudo, Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, Michael Chandler, Justin Gaethje, Aljamain Sterling, Tony Ferguson, and numerous others, raising the possibility that these fighters might bid farewell to the Octagon, as asserted by Will Harris on X.
I know I am projecting, but next year may be the end for Conor. Nate, Kamaru, Cejudo, Jones, Stipe, Chandler, Gaethje, Aljo, Tony and many other careers. 2024 may be the end of a few fighters, so appreciate everything that is coming in 2024.
— Anatomy of a Fighter (@WillHarrisAOAF) December 24, 2023
Although the accuracy of these projections remains uncertain, only time will reveal the extent of their accuracy. However, if these forecasts become reality, it could undoubtedly be a heartbreaking year for long-time UFC fans.
Road House is set to release on Amazon Prime on March 21, 2024, and the Conor v Chandler fight is scheduled for June 29.
