For years, Conor McGregor was the UFC’s top fighter. Whether he was fighting or not, his reputation alone carried the sport. ‘The Notorious’ was constantly in the spotlight, whether at a press conference, on Twitter, or simply walking into an arena. But times are changing. A clear indicator? ESPN UFC Page has officially removed Conor McGregor’s picture from the main picture of the site. ESPN UFC Page’s main image now has Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria, and Julianna Peña. It’s not merely a design alteration; it conveys a message. ESPN, like the world of mixed martial arts, is moving on and away from ‘The Notorious.’
Let’s be honest—this was inevitable. The Irishman hasn’t fought since 2021, and each comeback attempt has either failed or turned into another business promotion. He was scheduled to come back at UFC 303 but then suffered a toe injury. Before then, there were contractual concerns. Now he’s hinting at retirement and considering running for President of Ireland instead. ESPN, like the UFC, does not wait for anyone. If you aren’t active, you’re out.
The wildest part? We are talking about Conor McGregor. The same person that turned the UFC into a global phenomenon, sold millions of pay-per-views and talked himself into a $100 million fight with Floyd Mayweather. Even when he didn’t win, he remained the main event. What about now? He is more focused on his whiskey, music label, and political ambitions. And while he’s doing all of these things, the fight world continues on without him.
Maybe he fights again; maybe he doesn’t. If he does, the UFC will slap him back onto every poster in existence. But for now, the message is clear: Conor McGregor is no longer the UFC’s face, at least for ESPN. And if he doesn’t return soon, he may wind up like every other retiring legend: a great memory but no longer part of the conversation. In fact, it seems like fans have already accepted ‘The Notorious’ as a part of their past and have embraced the move made by ESPN.
Fans are all in support of ESPN’s unexpected move
For years, Conor McGregor was the face of the UFC, the only athlete capable of turning any event into a must-see spectacle. However, time does not wait for anyone. ESPN’s decision to remove him from the site’s main banner may have surprised some, but many believe it was long overdue. In fact, fans have been sharing their comments on social media, and the overall consensus is that they approve of the latest move. “Should’ve been done,” one fan clearly stated. Another agreed, stating, “That should’ve been done a while ago—stop gatekeeping and let the new greats come in.” While McGregor’s legacy is obvious, the sport is moving on without him. Jon Jones, Alex Pereira, Charles Oliveira, Ilia Topuria, and Julianna Peña are currently the main focus of the UFC, indicating a shift towards active competition. One fan summed up the moment perfectly by using Bruce Buffer’s iconic line, “It’s timeeeeeeee.”
Of course, with ‘The Notorious’ increasingly engaged in non-fighting pursuits such as business, politics, and even a possible run for the Irish presidency, many believe he is done with the UFC for good. “Yeah, he ain’t never coming back,” one fan said, while another joked, “He’s busy being the new president of Ireland.” The prospect of McGregor fighting again is increasingly distant with each passing month, and for some, ESPN’s action merely reinforces what they already knew. “It’s clear now, McChicken ain’t coming back to the UFC,” another fan said, indicating how disconnected he now feels from the fight business.
While most fans support Conor McGregor’s replacement, not everyone is delighted with the revised banner. A new controversy has erupted over one specific name: Julianna Peña. One fan commented, “They really snuck Peña in there lmao,” while another was more direct: “Take Peña out of there.” Some argue that Zhang Weili was more deserving of the position, saying, “Zhang was the appropriate female fighter to place here.” “The fact that Peña is up there but not Weili or Shevchenko is crazy work,” one person said. McGregor may be off the banner, but the debate over who should genuinely represent the UFC is far from done. What do you think? Did ESPN make the right move? Let us know in the comments.
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