What is the best advice for young, aspiring athletes striving to make their mark? Perhaps it’s to hold their head high in confidence while staying firmly grounded during moments of success. This is a principle every athlete must follow. However, some stumble when riding the wave of fame and fortune. This has been the downfall of many big names, such as heavyweight GOAT Jon Jones, legendary boxer Mike Tyson, and, more recently, UFC superstar Conor McGregor.

McGregor, once at the peak of his career, found himself in the spotlight earlier this month due to a civil suit verdict in which he was held liable for a 2018 s-xual assault allegation. The court ordered McGregor to pay approximately $250,000 in damages to the victim, sparking widespread discussion and criticism within the MMA community and across social media. In light of this controversy, a prominent UFC referee, Big John McCarthy, recently offered valuable advice to aspiring MMA fighters in a recent interview, urging them to learn from McGregor’s mistakes.

Big John McCarthy’s advice to MMA fighters

In the recent episode of his YouTube podcast ‘Weighing In,’ Big John McCarthy, alongside his co-host Josh Thomson, covered the ongoing MMA topics of the week. As they were about to conclude their podcast, McCarthy interrupted, stating he wanted to comment on Conor McGregor’s situation. His co-host nodded in agreement. McCarthy, drawing from his discipline and experience as as LAPD officer, said, “[I don’t know if Conor is] innocent, guilty – any of it. I hope other fighters look and learn from this—that there are consequences to everything.”

Emphasizing his decades of involvement in the UFC, McCarthy continued, not judging whether McGregor was guilty or not, but pointing out, “But from what it looks like, you’re in that position, you put yourself in that position for someone to be able to attack you and put you where you’re at. You gave them that ability. Learn from it. If you’re not Conor and you’re someone else, learn, man. There are reasons why you have to understand, ‘Hey, I don’t do these things’.”

This year has been one of the toughest for Conor McGregor since 2021. Although he made headlines with his acting debut in Amazon’s Roadhouse, repeated delays marred his long-awaited return to the Octagon, now stretching into next year. To make matters worse, McGregor finds himself embroiled in a fresh controversy that threatens to overshadow his long-anticipated comeback.

Joe Rogan Sheds Light on Conor McGregor’s “Self-Destructive” Behavior

The name and fame that UFC two-division champion Conor McGregor achieved in MMA remain unparalleled, marking him as a milestone for aspiring athletes and a prime example of success. However, along with his achievements, McGregor has also earned a controversial reputation. Once labeled “way more polarizing” by Chael Sonnen, Joe Rogan recently echoed this sentiment during a JRE episode with actor-director Josh Brolin.

When Brolin asked Rogan, “Jon Jones or Conor McGregor?“. Rogan, drawing from his decades of involvement in the UFC, gave his candid opinion. He said, “Jon’s in a different category. Conor self-destructed in a lot of ways because of money. He took that fight with Floyd Mayweather, made a ton of money off that, and then took a long time before he came back to MMA. He’s just not been the same guy since. And I think that’s just… it’s money, it’s a lot of partying, but it’s the same kind of thing.”

As Conor McGregor continues his appeal against the recent verdict, all eyes are on how young, aspiring athletes will respond to Big John McCarthy’s advice about remaining grounded while chasing success and fame. McCarthy’s words emphasize the critical role of discipline and focus in building and preserving a respected legacy. Ultimately, success isn’t just about wealth—it’s about earning respect within the sport, and outside of it.