Imagine a world where LeBron James is no longer the top dog in the NBA? Or the bright lights of the Superbowl where Tom Brady isn’t the most talked about player in the world? Or even Michael Schumacher, where the German does not rule the track with his Ferrari? All of these scenarios are difficult to imagine! Considering how long these juggernauts have defined their respective sports, it becomes difficult to imagine the sport without their overarching presence. But wait! Aren’t we already seeing this? In 2025, the Lakers legend is already 40 and is on the verge of going out in the sunset. Meanwhile, the other gentlemen have already bid farewell to the sport. And something similar has happened in the world of MMA as well!
The year is no longer 2016. This means that ‘The Conor McGregor Show’ is over! All the glitz and glamor, glory and strides, championships and record-breaking numbers— they are a thing of the past! 9 years since his ascension as the biggest UFC superstar in history, the world has indeed seemed to move on from the Irishman. This naturally begs the question! Is Conor McGregor still a priority for the UFC? Judging by Joe Rogan’s recent comments on his podcast, it seems Dana White may have quietly moved on from the biggest star in MMA history. And as the McGregor era fades, a new question emerges—has Ilia Topuria become the promotion’s new international centerpiece?
This shift in tone has been subtle, but the signs are becoming increasingly hard to ignore. Public statements from key figures who once orbited McGregor’s meteoric rise now suggest a changing of the guard. Moreover, the UFC commentator didn’t mince words during a recent conversation with the former featherweight kingpin. On JRE MMA Show #166, Rogan acknowledged what many fans and insiders have only speculated in whispers: the torch may already be in the process of being passed.
Rogan addressed the uncertainty surrounding McGregor’s fighting future with candid observations suggesting a growing disconnection between McGregor and the UFC’s present plans. When Topuria asked Rogan’s views on McGregor coming back, he said, “If I had a bet, no! If he really wanted to, he would have been back in the gym, had a fight scheduled, d–g tested, clean, training, gone through a camp, had a fight.”
He elaborated by explaining that McGregor’s inactivity doesn’t stem from circumstances beyond his control but rather a lack of initiative. Rogan then emphasized the broader context of McGregor’s post-prime career phase by adding, “Like he had a broken toe before the first fight with Chandler.. I get it! So heal that toe up, what’s that? Two months? Broken toes is two months. So then you are back in camp. And then you rescheduled the fight, and you fight again. But he didn’t! Also, partying, constant partying..You know, scooting around in yachts, you know, driving around a Lamborghini. He’s wealthy!”
“He’s done!” Topuria quipped. And Rogan, the cultural conduit of UFC, didn’t stop here. Reflecting on McGregor’s current status, he underscored the aging curve that affects fighters’ physical peak. “What’s really sad is if he comes back when he’s like 39 or 40 and his body just doesn’t have it anymore. On the feet, Conor’s a mot——-er…If he’s the same guy. Yeah, but the thing is he’s 36 now.”
The UFC commentator also raised a key procedural issue tied to eligibility and anti-doping compliance: “I am not sure if he’s in the testing pool anymore! I don’t know. I have heard no plans, you know the UFC would tell me. I would say, ‘What’s going on with Conor,’ and I don’t even bring it up anymore.”
MMA: UFC 264-McGregor vs Poirier, Jul 10, 2021, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Conor McGregor before fighting Dustin Poirier during UFC 264 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports, 10.07.2021 21:17:47, 16393792, NPStrans, T-Mobile Arena, Dustin Poirier, MMA, TopPic, Conor McGregor PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xGaryxA.xVasquezx 16393792
No conjecture! Just Rogan, calmly diagnosing a truth many UFC insiders suspect, if McGregor has drifted too far from the fight game that once centred around him. And why not? In recent times, Dana White has provided mixed signals about McGregor’s return. In September 2024, he told the New York Post, “Conor McGregor will fight next year, early 2025.”
However, by December 2024, his tone shifted. When asked about McGregor’s future at a UFC 310 post-fight press conference, White responded, “He hasn’t been fighting here in how long? If he does fight, it will be sometime next year.” This change in tone has added to the doubts of the MMA community around the growing uncertainty of McGregor’s return. While McGregor’s name dims under headlines of uncertainty, Ilia Topuria has become a rising centerpiece of UFC marketing. The undefeated Spaniard-Georgian captured the featherweight title by knocking out Alexander Volkanovski, and he’s made it clear he only wants one fight next: Islam Makhachev for the 155-pound belt.
Ilia Topuria eying gold as UFC looks beyond Conor McGregor
When discussing this, his guest, Ilia Topuria, affirmed, “He pulled back,” referring to Conor McGregor’s withdrawal from the USADA testing pool, which effectively suspended his eligibility to compete under standard UFC protocols. Moreover, it also led to the end of the company’s relations with USADA, as they established a new working relationship with DFSI. On the same podcast, Topuria stated, “I wouldn’t fight for a number one contender fight. Of course, I want the title. I don’t care if Islam decides that he doesn’t want to fight me. I’ll sit till he has to fight me.”
‘La Leyenda’ even revealed that UFC promised him the next title shot when he vacated his featherweight belt. “I get the promise that I would fight for the title in my next fight.” Notably, Topuria also confirmed that there had been talks of a McGregor fight, but turned it down for now, “Would you make an exception for a Conor McGregor fight? Right now? No.”
McGregor last entered the Octagon in July 2021, where he faced a leg break during his fight with Dustin Poirier. Since then, his name has dominated headlines more for lawsuits, yacht parties, and social media rants. In late 2024, McGregor faced a civil s—al assault case. Moreover, he was found guilty and ordered to pay €250,000 in damages to Nikita Hand. Adding to this, questions about performance-enhancing d–gs continue to hang in the air.
The shift in UFC’s energy is tangible. In the past, even vague signs of McGregor training would spark Dana White to set up a press tour. In 2025, the UFC seems to be building events around fighters like Topuria, Sean O’Malley, Tom Aspinall, and Islam Makhachev, with no schedule or talks centered around McGregor.
With McGregor’s silence growing louder and the UFC’s spotlight shifting elsewhere, do you believe we’ve already witnessed his final walk to the Octagon without realizing it? Drop your thoughts below.
The post “He’s Done. He’s 36” – Conor McGregor’s UFC Comeback Meets Tragedy as Joe Rogan & Ilia Topuria Reveal Dana White’s Intentions appeared first on EssentiallySports.
