No MMA fan ever thought that UFC 264 would be the last time they witnessed their superstar, Conor McGregor, in the octagon. Since then, he has been out of action after sustaining a freak leg injury in that event against Dustin Poirier. The injury has indeed become “career-ending,” yet the Irishman is still trying to move on from it. However, he has made little progress, as his most recent attempt to return to the octagon last summer was thwarted by a ‘pinky toe’ injury.

Since then, McGregor’s future in MMA has been in limbo, undergoing continuous scrutiny from other fighters and MMA pundits. Recently, he faced criticism from emerging UFC lightweight contender Alexander Hernandez in an interview.

Will Conor McGregor ever return to the octagon?

If we listen to Alexander Hernandez, the answer is “No.” Hernandez recently sat down with the ‘Inside Fighting’ YouTube channel for an interview to reflect on his recent win against Austin Hubbard at UFC 307. During their conversation, the topic shifted to Conor McGregor when host James Lynch asked Hernandez, “Do you think Conor McGregor fights again?” Without hesitation, Hernandez declined to believe the UFC star would return.

He stated, “No, no, I don’t. Yeah, and if he does, he’ll be so far gone that you won’t even want to see it. You know, if it takes another year, it’s like, I don’t want to see it in another year. I just want—I’d rather just be done so you can hold the image, you know?”

Hernandez further advised ‘Mystic Mac’ not to come back, citing his admiration for the MMA icon and expressing doubt about whether he can replicate his past success in the twilight of his career. Emphasizing McGregor’s age, Hernandez remarked, “So, man, it’s like, God, you just want the guy to lay it down and, in this case, kind of rest on his laurels versus doing anything else that might tarnish the name. So I’m kind of hoping he just doesn’t come back.”

Previously, Conor McGregor’s return opponent was set to be ranked #6 lightweight contender Michael Chandler. However, as weeks went by, ‘Iron Mike’ grew impatient, slowly losing hope for his lucrative money fight. Eager to fight this year, Chandler approached Dana White for a match and received Charles Oliveira as his opponent for the upcoming UFC event at Madison Square Garden, leaving the Irishman without an opponent.

Conor McGregor spills the beans on his octagon return

The individual who has experienced so much loss due to Conor McGregor’s absence is none other than Michael Chandler. Since the conclusion of TUF 31, the former Bellator champion has been waiting for his showdown against ‘The Notorious’, which was initially hinted at just after TUF 31. However, McGregor’s issues with USADA and his Hollywood stints delayed their fight, and this waiting for a “red panty night” also brought considerable criticism to the 38-year-old Chandler, who, like the Irishman, is in the twilight of his career and hasn’t fought since November 2022.

Consequently, Chandler decided to take a fight with Charles Oliveira, leaving McGregor’s return in limbo. Despite this, McGregor is not disappointed and is keeping his head up. While speaking to Ariel Helwani last month in London, ‘Mystic Mac’ disclosed his plans for a return next year, stating, “It will be 2025. We will see. My opponent that I had scheduled has been matched; it is what it is. I take it on board and rock on. My job is to go to the gym and be in shape. Whenever it is and wherever it is, I will be 100 percent ready.”

What are your thoughts on Alexander Hernandez’s comments? Do you share the belief that Conor McGregor will never return to the octagon, as this sentiment has been echoed by many veterans and experts in the sport? Drop your opinion below.