5 reasons why Conor McGregor will never regain the UFC lightweight title

#2. It’s hard to imagine Conor McGregor defeating the lightweight division’s top grapplers

Conor McGregor's limitations on the ground were cruelly exposed by Khabib Nurmagomedov at UFC 229

Even during his meteoric rise to the top of the UFC, the big question surrounding Conor McGregor was always how he’d deal with a high-level grappler inside the octagon.

‘The Notorious’ did quieten his doubters when he defeated wrestler Chad Mendes at UFC 189 in 2015. However, in the years that have followed, it’s safe to say that the ground game has definitely emerged as his Achilles heel.

McGregor struggled on the ground with Nate Diaz and Dustin Poirier, and was thoroughly dominated by Khabib Nurmagomedov’s wrestling in their legendary clash at UFC 229.

Aside from his bouts with Mendes and Diaz, the Irishman’s initial rise saw him largely fight – and defeat – strikers such as Jose Aldo and Eddie Alvarez. However, things have changed at the top of the UFC lightweight division in the years that have followed.

The top of the division is now filled with deadly grapplers such as Charles Oliveira, Islam Makhachev and Beneil Dariush. Based on what we saw in his fight with Nurmagomedov, you’d favour all of them in a bout with Conor McGregor.

When you also consider that even strikers such as Justin Gaethje and Michael Chandler, not to mention Poirier, could probably outwrestle the Irishman too, the chances of him regaining the UFC lightweight title seem hugely slim.

Simply put, he just doesn’t have the time to develop the ground game he’d need to get back to the top at this point.

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#1. Conor McGregor is getting no younger and may be past his physical prime

Conor McGregor may be out of his physical prime now, particularly after the leg injury he suffered against Dustin Poirier

Perhaps the biggest reason Conor McGregor is highly unlikely to ever regain the UFC lightweight title is the fact that he’s not a young up-and-comer any more.

It doesn’t seem like five minutes since ‘The Notorious’ shot to fame in the UFC. Incredibly, he’s been with the promotion almost a decade now. His first UFC title win over Jose Aldo came six years ago and you’ve got to rewind over five years for his UFC lightweight title victory over Eddie Alvarez.

More to the point, McGregor is now 33 years old. While that age would still be considered young for a larger fighter in the lower weight classes, where speed is so important, there’s an argument that the Irishman is no longer in his physical prime.

When you also take into consideration the serious leg injury that he suffered against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, snapping his left tibia and fibia, then the idea of Conor McGregor suddenly regaining his physical prime for another run at the UFC lightweight title seems even more like a pipe dream.

Essentially, the UFC is no country for old men. While ‘The Notorious’ might not seem old to many fans, with over a decade of fighting under his belt, the truth is that the best has probably already been and gone for him.

Conor McGregor might deny it, but like former champions like Tito Ortiz and B.J. Penn before him, he’s probably too far past his best to claim UFC gold again.